The mother of Barrabas wept
When her prodigal returned.
“My son, my only son,” she cried,
And he, with sidelong look and brow
Downcast at her unravelled state,
Felt only shame to be called so.
Thus Joy and Sorrow, by one door,
Received whom all had cast aside,
Save him, who being a faithful
Son, set free, with chains, the faithless
And robbed Death of his victory.
Todd Anderson (Stuff of the Rind, Sand and Sail, The Reluctant Prophet) writes the newsletter Mirth to share a behind-the-scenes look at his writing process as well as to offer readers the first fruits of his poetry and reflections. He grew up in the forests of small-town Ontario, contending against nature in all its beauty and harshness. His training as a literary scholar of Latin and English literature inflects his love of poignant turns of phrase, but it is the influence of his family and their myriad adventures together that infuses his story-telling and poetry with its substance and power. Todd lives and writes in Ottawa with his wife and six children. If you are interested in supporting Todd’s work, please follow the links below to donate or buy his books.
Todd Edward Anderson 