Collecting Dust

Collecting Dust: Sonnets (Thus Far) engages both common and particular experiences of faith, celebration, affection, and loss. The lyrics in these poems sing of meditations on divine mystery, efforts for ritual festivity, pledges in close relationships, and glimpses into critical decline. "We lean together, joyful as we weep." This closing line to "YOKEFELLOW" depicts mutual support between two friends; it also describes the experience between author and audience standing side by side at an observer's window to the world, looking on as people move through their varied circumstances. Four Bins organize this collection of encounters: "Clothes Hamper for Time after Time" considers belief; "Storage Tubs for Christ's Mass" recounts holiday; "Table Crumbs for Friends and Lovers" touches on intimacy; and "Plot Numbers for Madison Cemeteries" explores demise. The crafted meter and varied rhyme schemes in these sonnets support the devised imagery, metaphor, allusion, and symbolism to create perspective, irony, paradox, and tone. Readers looking through these poetic windows may well see their own reflections staring back into their souls.

Ronald E. Wheeler instructs students in composition and literature courses at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee (fall 1977 to present). He also taught rhetorical studies for Tusculum College at the Knoxville campus (May 1995 through October 2006). He teaches an adult fellowship of readers at Woodlawn Christian Church. Ron and his wife, Martha, have two adult children and eight grandchildren. Collecting Dust is his first published collection of poetry.


Jon A. Weatherly is Academic Dean of the College and Professor of New Testament at Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary. He is a graduate of that institution, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the University of Aberdeen (Ph.D.). He is the author of two previous books and many articles.