An Apology for Loving the Old Hymns

Jordan Smith, An Apology for Loving the Old Hymns (Princeton, 1982) There is something wonderful about going back twenty-odd years later and rereading the first book of an author who's become one of your favorites over the years. An Apology for Loving the Old Hymns is recognizably Jordan Smith, but when you lay some of these poems alongside those from, say, Lucky Seven, it becomes obvious that Smith has refined and improved his craft over the years since this was published. This is not to say it's not worth reading-- not by a longshot. An Apology for Loving the Old Hymns is a very, very good book. There are a few places that suffer from a touch of bloat, a couple of places where the word choice is a little less perfect than Smith's later work made standard. No place where a whole poem stands out as being of less quality than the rest of the collection, just the stray word, line, or strophe here and there. But the established fan of Jordan Smith will certainly find it to his liking. Those not yet aware of Smith's work could easily start here and come away with a positive impression, as well. *** ½