The Ministry of Flowers by Andrea Witzke Slot
“Between My Country — and the Others —
There is a Sea —
But Flowers — negotiate between us —
As Ministry.”
— Emily Dickinson
As the world grapples with the tragic human cost of the global pandemic and its aftermath, the need for kindness and gratitude has become more important than ever. The Ministry of Flowers is in many ways a book for our times, one that offers hope in a changing world. The poems call into stark relief the brevity of human life, while also emphasizing the urgent need to connect with others and offer acts of kindness as a way of healing and moving forward.
Taking its title from an Emily Dickinson poem, the book explores how flowers, both real and metaphorical, are at the heart of a kinder world. With a strong ecological focus, the poems celebrate nature’s continual ministry in our lives and highlight the need to respect the ecosystems that sustain us. The Ministry of Flowers speaks eloquently to a society in need, in which compassion as well as forgiveness (of both self and others) become the seeds of the gentler, fairer world we seek.
‘A truly compelling and original work.’
— John Sibley Williams
‘These poems will break your heart but leave you feeling uplifted, more grateful to be alive.’
— Faisal Mohyuddin
‘A collection that will resonate long after you have turned the last page.’
— Fiona Bennett
‘I’d begun to think that no poetry could reach me this year … I am, gratefully, shaken.’
— Valerie Wallace
‘A compassionate recorder of our fallible bodies, broken hearts and enduring loves.’
— Tamar Yoseloff
‘Poignant hymns to the transformative nature of life’s experiences. Uplifting, intelligent and immensely engaging.’
— Vanessa Gebbie
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