"I've considered evolution from a theist and from a non-theist perspective, and most things come out more-or-less the same."

This is possible only if you don't understand evolution, which you have demonstrated time and time again that you don't. There is no way of properly considering evolution from a theistic perspective. There is nothing about evolution, or any other natural phenomenon, that requires the insertion of a God. Everything can be explained in terms of normal laws of nature and there has never been the slightest hint that the things we have yet to explain will be any different. All you're doing is trying to justify your unfounded belief in God by manufacturing a false reconciliation with science. At best it's deluded, at worst it's downright dishonest.

" From my theistic perspective, I see a unifying essence within and beyond all things, "

I'll be kind and not say that this is dreamy, cloudy, meaningless gibberish. I've tried to explain that evolution cannot have a unifying essence, a divine (or non-divine) driver, a kick-starter, an underlying sense of direction, a quest for greater complexity or perfection or a designer. The phenomenon of evolution is innocent of all these notions, and with any one of them on board the whole thing would be turned on its head.

" I've also considered evolution from a more purely rational and scientific perspective. I find that's a very good way to root my perspective in reality, but it takes the poetry out of it all"

Well what actually takes the poetry out of it all is the dereliction of intellect and imagination that goes hand in glove with your Godly "perspective." The natural world is amazing enough in its diversity, complexity and beauty, there for us to study for what it is and to inspire our highest flights of imagination, spawning the finest poetry, music and art there has ever been, not there for us to superimpose an undemonstrable, dismal, infantilising gloss. What is so amazing is its beautiful normality and the way it keeps faith unfailingly with the laws of nature. To try to explain it in any other fashion, without evidence, is to insult it. I don't know why anyone would even want to try. If you really can't see beauty and poetry in science then you're not seeing science at all. Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree. I can live without that sort of poetry, thanks.