THE music of the ocean is indeed a constant accompaniment to the life of a Caldey monk. For many years Brother David Hodges has lived with the sea and nature's elemental forces all around him. They form a powerful backdrop to his poetry, lending real depth and resonance to the religious and human themes which have become his hallmark.

In his sixth collection of poetry, The Music of the Ocean, Brother David draws on his long experience of contemplative life, not just with monkish spirituality, but with a good deal of worldly wisdom and a keen, questioning intellect. With a voice both lyrical and pithy, he tackles global and personal themes through the prism of his island home and monastic life. He manages to combine deep insight with a light touch, while his less weighty themes are handled with warmth, wit and quiet humour.

Anyone who enjoys good poetry, nature, religion, or a thoughtful slant on life in general, will find The Music of the Ocean both moving and enjoyable.

The Music of the Ocean is available from Caldey Abbey Shop, Quay Hill, Tenby, priced £7.50. The book can be purchased by mail order from The Perfumery, Caldey Island, Pembs., SA70 7UH, priced £8.50 including postage, or online from http://www.caldey-island.co.uk">www.caldey-island.co.uk.

Before becoming a monk David Hodges practised as a solicitor in Basingstoke, having read Law and Economics at Trinity College, Cambridge. His earlier books of poetry, Songs from Solitude, On the Night Tide, Delayed by Rough Seas, Watching for the Wind and Echoes from a Far Shore, achieved wide critical acclaim.