AIN'T AFRAID TO SAY IT

A book of wide-ranging religious poems by a Christian couple.

The Franklins explore themes of faith, resilience, identity, and inner strength in these spiritual poems that often use images from the natural world. The opener uses the metaphor of a tree in the desert, standing strong against the winds of adversity thanks to its steadfast faith. The authors encourage authenticity, reminding readers, “If you wear a mask long enough, you forget it’s on. / If you wear a mask long enough, your own face becomes unknown.” The work criticizes “part-time servants,” whom they compare to “paper plates-used for soup, / not equipped to hold or contain the word of truth,” and they highlight the hypocrisy of “church folks.” “Why Me” celebrates the God-given gift of true love, while “All Good” warns against the evils of capitalism, asking, “What good is a love that is defined by things?” “Doing It Wrong” may provide comfort to empty nesters: “Admitting your / faults and swallowing your pride, knowing it’s your time to live your best / life; no longer doing wrong but doing it ALL right!” “The Ugly Truth” grapples with temptation in straightforward couplets; “In my spirit I feel conflicted, / because the flesh feels so good, but restricted,” the poets write. Each entry includes an introduction that cites Bible verses, and the authors create effective metaphors for faith that have their own undeniable logic: “You can’t plant an apple seed and expect oranges; / and you can’t plant the unholy in the holy and expect to reap a harvest.” The vehement delivery might alienate readers looking for a more subtle exploration of spirituality, but the title makes the tone of the content clear. Slang is sprinkled among the religious language, such as “Whatever, bro” and “My bad!” which may attract readers who find other religious poetic works too fusty.

A lucid, unapologetic collection.