The mind of a poet can be found in the head of one who may fill any occupation or social standing. We have idealized the poet as sitting in a garden or sun room, professor's office or scholar's study, but in Eli Boone's case it resides inside a road construction hard hat.
Many times poetry is in response to love. Such a poet has fallen deeply in love, and only some form of verbalization or verse can satisfy the longing to communicate intense devotion to the object of one's love. "We love Him because He first loved us."*
Like a love-struck suitor, Eli cannot refrain from writing sonnets to his Beloved. As the day wears on and he directs construction site traffic, the brain and soul within his hard hat is constantly praising his Redeemer for trading His purity for Eli's sin before a holy God.** Like the woman in Luke chapter 7, Eli uses poetry to wash the feet of Jesus with his tears, wipe them with his hair, kiss them and anoint them with the ointment of his verse.
Eli's poetry makes you think, and as you think you are drawn in, and then you start to share his mind, and ultimately you come away more in love with Jesus than you were before.
Enjoy and rejoice.
Robert E. Dixon
Editor and Co Author and Commentator
*1 John 4:10
**2 Corinthians 5:21
