Love, Pain, and Divinity

Love, Pain, and Divinity is a collection of poems by Cole Allen Butler. Across this set of poems, a story is told. This is a story of confusion, of sense-making, of wrestling with God, and looking for deep connection. Chapter One, Love, walks through various poems that emerged dealing with complications around finding love and connection. The chapter ends with Cole having found that deep love and connection, finishing with a tribute to Cole's daughter. Chapter Two, Pain, is a series of struggles making sense in modern times. 'Pandemic' captures the pain of death during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 'Scared and Afraid' captures difficult emotions surrounding a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Chapter Three, Divinity, is a return to hope - hope for new life, for beauty in death, and reconnection to God. Death by Poetry On and on the sand grains fall Time becomes the captor of all Renewed in life by promise of death Returning to our sacred nest Filled with fear by a mere thought To think that today I am, tomorrow not Life is short and thus so sweet Rejoicing that two should meet Embracing every moment provided Cherishing the sanctity of timing In life we found our secret treasures Every day a new adventure