Swimming in the Lake of Fire

“As these poems develop themes (‘Lines to Christ’ and ‘Judas’) and echo rhythms (‘Rain’ and ‘A Mighty Wind’), the reader is carried through highs and lows of human story and breadth of biblical stories, moments in history and places in creation, in poignant, thought-provoking poetry, sometimes all at once, as with the communion of poet with God, humans, and creation in ‘Rain Song.’ Here, all is sacred, all ordinary, all profound.”

Sarah Agnew

“Swimming in the Lake of Fire is a collection of lyric poems that explore, probe, and challenge a range of human experiences from love to grief, from loss to attainment, and from faith to doubt. Thomas Vaughan is a poet of subtle insight and piercing vision.”

Don W. King

“In this latest collection of poems, Ronald Vaughan draws his life-pictures from Bible stories, biography, and history; from his professional experience in the fields of health care and Christian ministry; and from his own long, productive life. What comes across in poem after poem is the author’s tremendous empathy with those who face the inevitable challenges and sorrows of life. Vaughan writes of the defeated and the scared survivors with equal compassion and ultimately with a message of hope.”

Ray Moore