On September 11, 2001 America reeled in shock and disbelief. Much has evolved since that fateful day. Every American, indeed one might say each individual in the entire world, has hopefully begun the process of finding some sense of purpose or meaning from the atrocities of that day. But what about the future?

Elaine Duval has written a series of poems that not only addresses our coping mechanism but invites us to a transformative stance as individuals and a nation. Her poems address our irrevocable history, parallel with that of Biblical nations, leaders and citizens.

Divided into thirteen sections, the author's poems begin an exploration into a transcendent journey, one that hopefully will be individually and collectively experienced and not just read. Beginning with the grandeur of a nation founded upon faith-filled principles, the author appropriately alludes to a divine invitation to come back to the glory of the Song of Songs. Metaphoric allusions to the brokenness of Christ and the broken jar of alabaster holding the preparatory ointment for burial and resurrection provoke reflection, indeed provoke examination of what has caused such brokenness as well as what can heal it.

But these poetic, inspiring words also bear a warning about arrogance, independence, and forgetting apart from a spiritual reexamination and rebuilding, again paralleled by biblical nations and the leaders of those same infamous cities and regions.

Finally, a blueprint inspired by the Master Builder is proffered, one that seems to call for both spiritual regeneration, indeed spiritual warfare. Yes, it calls for patriotic war, but one that arises from a divine rather than human response. Then we can celebrate the glory of places like New York and Washington, as Dr. Duval so aptly and beautifully describes in a tribute to New York, originally written for her mother who passed away weeks after leaving New York City.

A moving, reflective, provocative series of poems, American After Siege would be an excellent read for both our politicians and citizens of every faith or persuasion. This reviewer has found it a worthy journey!