Fidelem Expectationum: Poetic Reflections for Advent and Other Special Occasions

Victor Dirks, born in the newly founded Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was spirited away to Canada along with his younger brother, Neil, and parents, Alexander P. and Agnes Dirks, in the migration of Mennonites from the region of the modern Ukraine in 1926. Growing up in a large Mennonite family on the Canadian Prairies, he learned much about hardship, perseverance and faith. Following in the legacy of his father's value for education, Victor went on to post-secondary, eventually completing a PhD in agronomy. But poetry was another, more personal love. Recording the rhythms of life's joys and sorrows through pen and paper, Victor expressed ardent thoughts and ideas often left unspoken.

Life rarely goes the way we expect, and Victor faced his own hardships. Born out of the crucible of human experience, Victor's faith in God is woven into his poetic verse. In his later years, family and friends looked forward to his annual advent poem. This collection of Victor's poetry makes his artistry accessible once again, and hopefully will allow others to reflect on the ideas he left behind, most notably his faith in God.