Jacob Michael King, the gifted young author of the book Lesser Shadows opens for us again a significant cultural and societal discourse; a discourse in fervent search of definite sanctity, with an inviolability much needed in an age of absolute civilized malaise. His verse brings to light that daunting task, which so many writers before him have taken to either botch of smarten in their attempt to shed light on the fragmented portrait of our unremitting existential crisis. His verse can be seen to stand boldly situated in the breach, among these discontinuities, giving rise again to these questions in a novel, organic, and refreshing way. King's verse addresses and fills a vacancy in culture in a generation where young voices are seemingly a thing of the past. We find, through his work, a significant, young, American intellectual voice. King's work here marks an appearance of a newly rising intellectual generation, one that abounds and wills to emerge-to be seen and reckoned with. It is not too late; as one generation departs, the time has come for a new generation to be brought into the light. King's work is here to incite and inspire his peers; to bring back, with a vengeance, the much needed vitality of poetry and prose in public culture.