Faith, Hope, and Other Verse is author Thomas Frackenpohl’s interpretation of the wonders the world has bestowed around his life, bound across several dozen short poems in this thought-provoking book.

Frackenpohl’s writing is reflective. An obvious theme across the numerous pieces is the somber opening tone. It generally brings with it a degree of melancholy that provokes the reader to evaluate their own personal circumstances and to uptake the lessons on the page that correlate with the theme of each verse. These, however, end on an uplifting note with an overall message that life is difficult at the best of times – all we owe to ourselves is to serve our souls kindly. Schoolings on the purpose of life, values, and morals alongside virtues are the foundations of this piece of work.

Overall, the structure of these verses results in scenic, quick reads that achieve the claims in the author’s note. Frackenpohl’s writing could have benefitted from being divided into sections with sub-themes for a greater reading experience and optimal impact.

The imagery has been achieved by showing the progressive aspect of the poem’s topic through a series of repeated verbs.  The verse Possibilities is structured in such a way that forces the reader to acknowledge that opportunities will not be created without exploring or thinking outside the box. It fashions an urgency that something is happening that will leave the reader behind if they do not act immediately. The push for mental action encourages a revaluation of the reader’s present way of living towards a revolutionized purpose with capabilities ripe for the taking.

Faith, Hope, and Other Verse by Thomas Frackenpohl is the perfect read for those who are dabbling into introspection. With an overall well-rounded summary of life experiences, it is not overly heavy or complex and will suit a broad audience.

Pages: 116 | ASIN : B096T3J7BS