Eternal Love
C. Peggy Atoche
Resource Publications (2022)
ISBN: 978-1666736151
Reviewed by Jessica Dickenson for Reader Views (06/2024)
The title of this collection of poems sums it up best. “Eternal Love: A Poetic Pathway to God’s Heart and Mind” is the literary equivalent of being a bear hug. The whole time I read this book, it reminded me of when my mother would hold me on her lap and tell me everything was alright. That is not to say that C. Peggy Atoche infantilizes the reader, but there is something deeply comforting and reassuring about these poems.
The book’s title may give the impression that it only deals with the blissful feelings of love when someone is united with God, but Atoche is not afraid to present the real relationship that exists between God and the believer. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, Atoche has a poem that addresses the struggle at every level of spiritual life. She takes us from intense elation to the desolation of the dark night of the soul.
She also makes the bold decision to incorporate poems that deal with tough topics like the Australian wildfires, war, racial cruelty, George Floyd, and demons. As a writer and a believer, this can be a fine line to trod, but Atoche does this deftly. She does not negate the horrors but also does not give in to despair. Through poems like True Love Isn’t Romantic, she shows that love is not exclusively happy feelings and only shines when put to the test. God does not abandon us, but he also does not shield us from every bad thing. For example, A Father’s Message of Love shows the duality of existence: freedom cannot exist without war, warmth without fire, and love without pain.
Something unique about Atoche’s collection is the break between poems describing the inspiration and/or deeper meaning behind a poem through several paragraphs of prose. It is not something that I see regularly outside of poetic anthologies or historical compendiums. I didn’t know how to feel about it at first, but I appreciated how it allowed me to engage with the material in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise. Atoche allows for personal interpretation of her poems while showcasing her vision and message. It helped that Atoche’s prose is as engaging as her poetry- her descriptions were just as lyrical as her verses.
I loved “Eternal Love” by C. Peggy Atoche and the message it conveyed of a God who meets us where we are. Whether it comes in a raw and hurtful place or from a joyful place of peace, God will be there and tell us that everything will be alright.