In Paul Herring's book, "Letters of Ascent," he combines the two aspects in the striving for knowledge of the Lord in all that is around us and within us. Standard prayers as a way of understanding God may become so routine and ritualized that we no longer listen to the words or feel a connection to the meaning. Herring's collection of poetic prayer is poetry to be read in a prayerful fashion or prayer set to poetry. These contemplations are replete with passion, anger, illusion, historical references and intellectual wordplay. The reading of them, slowly...