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