Michael Pedretti’s poetry collection, Seven Ages of Man, offers a journey through the universe's history, traced through metaphorical “ages,” linking cosmic events to human consciousness and cultural development. Pedretti uses a broad narrative style to explore deep themes of existence, evolution, and human endeavor. The collection begins with the “First Age,” envisioning the universe’s inception through a daring mix of cosmological speculation and poetic creativity. This sets the tone for a work that fluidly moves between grand cosmic scales and intimate human details. Pedretti blends science with lyrical insights, suggesting a universe interconnected with our origins.

Michael Pedretti’s use of literary devices, such as metaphor and personification, enriches the text by breathing life into abstract concepts like the formation of atoms or the birth of stars. For instance, when describing the early universe, he talks about particles such as "quarks” and “leptons” in almost whimsical terms, suggesting their roles in the cosmic dance that results in the present. The poetic voice in Seven Ages of Man echoes Walt Whitman’s contemplative and philosophical style, featuring expansive lines that reflect humanity’s role in the vast universe. Pedretti’s work challenges readers to consider the broad arc of history and the intricacies of human life within it. It’s a thoughtful meditation on time, space, and existence, inviting readers to reflect on the origins and future of an ancient and ever-evolving universe. This collection will appeal to anyone who appreciates poetry or enjoys reading the poetry found in the New Yorker or Subnivean. Seven Ages of Man connects the realms of science and the human spirit, providing a broad perspective on where we have been and where we might be headed.

Seven Ages of Man: An Extremely Brief History of the Universe - A Poem by Michael Pedretti is an intriguing anthology. The titular poem is an epic that follows all of consciousness from the beginning of the universe to the current (seventh) age. Aside from the main work, there are another five shorter freestyle thought-provoking poems. One of these poems has a self-explanatory name, "The People Don't Want War." The remaining poems like "The Harvest" and "Faith and Hope" also reveal a lot about their content matter based solely on their names. However, every poem in this collection is worth reading to better understand the poet's mindset. Pedretti has a background in theater which shows in his work.

I enjoyed reading Seven Ages of Man by Michael Pedretti. My enjoyment was not because Pedretti and I share similar viewpoints; in fact, my views oppose some of what Pedretti claims in his poetry as fact. However, I appreciate that his work highlights important themes such as the origin of life, faith, hope, and peace in such an articulate way that it forced me to re-evaluate my own belief system. I also liked that we agreed on certain things. For instance, the poet highly regards the farmer's efforts. My favorite poem in this collection is "The Lure" which perfectly captures the pull that war has on young men seeking to prove their valor. This poem was brief and left me wanting to read more. I recommend Pedretti's work to fellow poetry enthusiasts.