Dianne P. (freebird1985) from WILLMAR, MN Reviewed on 10/21/2012...
I just LOVE this Michael Card cd!
His soft, bard-like music is pointed as a "double-edged sword" though!
Fabulous lyricist!
Musically flowing from one song to the next...like a conversation-smooth.
CD Reviews
The Masterpiece
Tim Morgan | Maryland, USA | 04/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Once again, Michael Card's insightful lyrics, and exceptional music have captivated me. I own all of Michael's albums, but if forced to pick a favorite, it would have to be "Poeima". These songs speak of life, of pain, of love, of hope, and most importantly, of the Saviour. From "The Poem of Your Life" to "The Edge" to "Sunrise of Your Smile", Michael uses these songs to weave a rich tapestry that celebrates life's beauty, acknowledges and worships the Creator, and offers hope for the future to those who are in pain. It doesn't get better than this."
Powerful songs, nice Celtic flavor
Phil Wade | Georgia | 07/28/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a solid, beautiful album with the great melodies and profound lyrics that Michael Card fans have come to expect. The general theme of the collection is community, with a beautiful piece on that subject called "The Basin and the Towel." Card shows his love of Celtic music more vividly in this album with "Lowden's Prayer," "The Edge," and "The Greening of Belfast."
"The Edge" is a song from a time when Card felt he was on the edge of living. It says, "I promise I will always leave the darkness for the light. I swear by all that's holy I will not give up the fight. I'll drink down death like water before I ever come again to that dark place where I might make the choice for life to end." With a haunting melody, the song pledges to cling to life despite the darkness closing in. Because of the song's meatiness and honesty, someone in marketing insisted that Card write a hopeful song to follow it. That's where "Hope" came from; It's Card's least favorite song-thrown together out of necessity, not nutured in love. "Home" is a much more beautiful song of hope and family. Marketing should have held on to that one instead of a new one."
Excellent CD . . .
T. Reynolds | Maple Shade, NJ United States | 06/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is excellent. I have always loved Michael Card's simplicity of song, yet powerfully based on scripture. His voice is soft yet filled with devotion and power. He portrays God as he is, full of love. He shows that we are indeed God's artistry. I can't really pick my favorite song . . . since I love the whole CD. Poem of Your Life: shows that our lives our poems or stories that tell of Jesus and his love. The Basin & the Towel: tells of following Jesus' example of serving the community. The Things We Leave Behind: tells of the freedom we find, when we leave the things that are holding us back, and follow Jesus no matter what. Earthly Perfect Harmony: is a love song of a marriage that has grown stagnant . . . it is a gentle call to the heart to remember why they married and who they both love, Jesus, the one who brought them together. Home: is a song of the meaning of home . . . its not just a house but it is family, where God dwells and where we can get away from the pain of this world. Lowden's Prayer is beautiful instrumental, with strings of longing. The Edge: is a song of encouragement for when you are almost ready to give up or feel you cannot go on in life. Hope: is full of hope :). The last four songs are beautiful in themselves . . . I love this whole CD. It is peaceful . . . yet powerful. :)"
Music to change your life
thabu | 10/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Because I love Michael Card's music, all of htese songs speak to my soul. But the one that really changed my life and perceptions on materialistic "things we own", is a song on this CD - "Things we leave behind". We live in a materialistic world and t keep up with the Jones', we often crucify our own beliefs, neglect our family lives, just to get those possesions we want to keep up and to compete. Michael Card then sing..."It's hard to imagine the freedom we find, from the things we leave behind".This is just one song. Buy the CD and listen to all of them. They can change your life and help give you peace and tranquility."
Music to soothe your soul and lift your spirit.
M Viljoen | CAPE Town. Mother city of the Rep. of South Afric | 08/31/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Michael Card is by far the best songwriter and singer of scriptural songs. His album "Life" is a double album and is his very early works which were on tapes and were titled "The Final Word", "Scandalon" and "Known by the scars". I have waited years for these earlier works to be put on CD. It is a pity that Amazon.com does not stock it! I bought this album in South Africa. I own almost every CD that he has ever produced."