Five Poems I Love

Hi, friends! Even though I've shared lots of my own poetry, I haven't written much about the poets who inspire me. So here's a list of five poems/poets that I love. You can click on the titles to view the full poems.

Praying for you this week! ❤️

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"Mysteries, Yes" by Mary Oliver

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous

 to be understood.

If you don't usually read poetry but would like to explore the genre, I'd recommend starting with the works of Mary Oliver. Her writing is very accessible, and can feel like a woman sharing nuggets of wisdom from her journal. Although not all of her pieces resonate with me, I could list at least a dozen favorites from her collections. This one rises to the top of my list because of how it speaks to the beauty of what we don't understand.

"God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

    It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

Unlike Mary Oliver, Hopkin's poems are usually not easy reads. Mainly this is because they were written almost two centuries ago. When I stopped to read this piece carefully, though, I was struck by the richness of the language and message. Interestingly enough, I first encountered "God's Grandeur" through this powerful reading by Jonathan Roumie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BqJVa0tMnY.

"The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry

...For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry is an all-around incredible writer. He has so many challenging ideas about the pace of modern America, which he shares in such a thoughtful, nourishing way. This poem reminds me of Psalm 23, and shares a comforting message we all need to be reminded of amidst the chaos of life.

"Lenten Sonnet: March 17, 2017" by Andrew Peterson

Still learning to lose my life to find it. Take my will to your altar, Lord. Bind it.

I love it when artists reference other creators in their work. This poem beautifully weaves together a scene from the Chronicles of Narnia with the struggles of day-to-day responsibilities. Surrender isn't an easy topic, but it's a necessary one.

"Curry" by Carly Marlys

...I wander

home in the cold of the moon with

the warmth of your light in my life.

This piece is proof that poetry can be bright and fun. "Curry" paints a warm picture of legacy and heritage, and I always enjoy reading it!

(Bonus Poem: I've posted about it before, but I'd also highly recommend "Love Sorrow" by Mary Oliver.)