In an extraordinary moment in time it is easy to become overwhelmed. This book was birthed during a global pandemic as a response to the waiting, the unknowing and the helplessness of sitting in front of a living room window, watching much of the world shut down.These poems look for some encouragement and comfort in the ordinary parts of life, and the beauty that is in those ordinary things when we slow down to see it.

The ordinary moments of life can be sacred, if we simply take a moment to notice. This collection of prayers, poems, and meditations offers a brief respite from the hectic, harried pace of our days. Open it when the spirit moves you or when the spirit feels distant--the words will be here to inspire, calm, and encourage you either way. From gifted poet and empathetic pastor Meta Herrick Carlson, Ordinary Blessings collects blessings for loving yourself, enduring hard things, authenticity, living with others, and the rhythms of each day. Pause, take a deep breath, and open these pages to find that you've been standing on holy ground all along.

ONE OF PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'S TOP 10 POETRY BOOKS OF FALL 2017 NPR'S MOST ANTICIPATED POETRY BOOKS OF 2017 A striking, full-length debut collection from Virgin Islands-born poet Nicole Sealey The existential magnitude, deep intellect, and playful subversion of St. Thomas-born, Florida-raised poet Nicole Sealey’s work is restless in its empathic, succinct examination and lucid awareness of what it means to be human. The ranging scope of inquiry undertaken in Ordinary Beast—at times philosophical, emotional, and experiential—is evident in each thrilling twist of image by the poet. In brilliant, often ironic lines that move from meditation to matter of fact in a single beat, Sealey’s voice is always awake to the natural world, to the pain and punishment of existence, to the origins and demises of humanity. Exploring notions of race, sexuality, gender, myth, history, and embodiment with profound understanding, Sealey’s is a poetry that refuses to turn a blind eye or deny. It is a poetry of daunting knowledge.

This perennial bestseller is now available in a tenth-anniversary edition that showcases Joyce Rupp's poems, a new preface by the author, and a new design. Joyce Rupp's characteristic creativity and reverence for the divine are on full display in this collection of prayer resources for birthdays, holidays, holy days, transitions, and many other occasions, helping readers enter more deeply and reflectively into the liturgical and seasonal celebrations of their lives. Ideal for personal use, or as a gift for loved ones celebrating a landmark occasion, Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season is an invaluable resource for ministers, spiritual directors, and lay leaders alike, who turn to its prayers, reflections, and rituals for personal and communal occasions both "ordinary" and profound.

"In Ordinary Light: New and Selected Poems" is a compilation of poems written by Darrell Bourque, Louisiana's Poet Laureate, over the last forty years. It includes selected poems from all the previously published volumes, all the poems from "The Blue Boat," and all the poems written by Bourque from "Call and Response: Conversations in Verse" (written with Jack B. Bedell).

"Maps and Transcripts of the Ordinary World is a collection of poems about memory, place, and distance between reality and its transcriptions"--

Charles Bernstein is our postmodern jester of American poesy, equal part surveyor of democratic vistas and scholar of avant-garde sensibilities. In a career spanning thirty-five years and forty books, he has challenged and provoked us with writing that is decidedly unafraid of the tensions between ordinary and poetic language, and between everyday life and its adversaries. Attack of the Difficult Poems, his latest collection of essays, gathers some of his most memorably irreverent work while addressing seriously and comprehensively the state of contemporary humanities, the teaching of unconventional forms, fresh approaches to translation, the history of language media, and the connections between poetry and visual art. Applying an array of essayistic styles, Attack of the Difficult Poems ardently engages with the promise of its title. Bernstein introduces his key theme of the difficulty of poems and defends, often in comedic ways, not just difficult poetry but poetry itself. Bernstein never loses his ingenious ability to argue or his consummate attention to detail. Along the way, he offers a wide-ranging critique of literature’s place in the academy, taking on the vexed role of innovation and approaching it from the perspective of both teacher and practitioner. From blues artists to Tin Pan Alley song lyricists to Second Wave modernist poets, The Attack of the Difficult Poems sounds both a battle cry and a lament for the task of the language maker and the fate of invention.

The Light, Color, and Sound of Words Iosefina Schirger writes and dreams, touching the light, color, and sound of words with her fingers. Entire poems seem to come from a universe where beauty floats in the air. Wherever you start reading, poetry extends a hand, you pass through the labyrinth of love together, then linger in meditation and contemplation. The painting is created with the heart. You dream... Before writing, Iosefina contemplates the world and resonates with things. Once penetrated into us, her poetry takes on other dimensions, horizons we would never have suspected: transcendence, demiurgic discourse, symbol. Iosefina's poetry is a continuous flame, it doesn't extinguish, only illuminates, dispels shadows, sadness, unfulfillment. The flame that burns with an open fire or smolders within us is love itself, a continuous oscillation between the inner self and the surrounding world, it is Ana herself from the immortal legend, built with faith and tears in a poem and now emerging from the wall like a mirage of infinity... Poetry is indeed the art of baring your soul, of coexisting in love... Marin Rada Transcending the Ordinary In the intricate universe of “Poems in a Line” by Iosefina Schirger, a poet of love, togetherness, and longing, we embark on a lyrical journey that transcends the ordinary and invites us into the realm of dreams, symbolism, and introspection. This poetry volume, woven with words that dance between reality and imagination, unveils the enigmatic landscapes of the poet's mind. “The Kite Collection” sets the stage, where words become kites soaring through the vast expanse of emotions. Schirger crafts verses that are more than mere linguistic expressions; they are ethereal messages carried by the wind of creativity. Each poem, a delicate string tethered to the soul, paints a vivid picture of dreams, longing, and the pursuit of meaning. As we delve into “Whirligigs,” we are swept into a whirlwind of thoughts and reflections. The poet invites us to question the nature of existence, to contemplate the whimsical whirligigs of life, and to navigate the complexities of the human experience. The verses echo with a timeless rhythm, mirroring the cyclical nature of our journey through joy and sorrow. “Talks on the Limit” invites contemplation on boundaries, both tangible and intangible. Schirger explores the edges of reality, pushing against the limits of perception and understanding. The poems become a conversation with the universe, challenging the constraints that bind our thoughts and aspirations. “Exercises against Falling” introduces a delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience. The poet guides us through exercises of the soul, teaching us to navigate the precarious landscapes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The verses become a testament to the strength found in embracing our vulnerabilities and learning to stand tall even in the face of adversity. In “Green Horses,” the poet takes us on a surreal journey through landscapes painted with shades of nature and imagination. The green horses gallop through the verses, symbolizing the untamed spirit of creativity. Schirger encourages us to ride alongside these mythical creatures, embracing the wild and untethered aspects of our own artistic endeavors. “The Garden from a Test Tube” blossoms with metaphors and allegories, inviting us into a garden of possibilities. Here, the poet explores the genesis of ideas, the cultivation of imagination, and the artistry involved in nurturing creativity. Each sentence becomes a seed planted in the fertile soil of the mind, promising a harvest of profound insights and poetic beauty. “Spring Happiness” celebrates the rejuvenating spirit of spring, both in the natural world and within the human heart. Schirger's verses bloom with the vibrancy of the season, inviting us to revel in the joy of renewal, growth, and the eternal cycle of rebirth. The poem becomes a lyrical ode to the ever-changing canvas of life. “Noise in My Head” delves into the cacophony of thoughts, emotions, and memories that inhabit the poet's mind. Through a symphony of words, Schirger invites us to listen to the internal noise, to decipher the melodies and dissonances that shape our inner worlds. The poems become a reflection of the chaotic beauty found within the depths of the human psyche. “Simulating the Concentration” challenges us to confront the distractions that vie for our attention in a world filled with constant stimuli. Schirger invites us to engage in the delicate dance of concentration, to simulate the focus required to navigate the complexities of modern existence. The verses become a meditation on the delicate balance between presence and distraction. “The Poems’ Drawer” opens a portal to the poet's repository of verses, a drawer filled with the treasures of language and emotion. Each passage, carefully folded and placed within, becomes a testament to the power of words to capture moments, emotions, and the essence of the human experience. Schirger's poetic drawer becomes a sanctuary for the soul, a place where the echoes of the heart find a home. As we navigate the poetic landscapes of “Poems in a Line,” we discover a wealth of emotion, imagination, and profound introspection. Iosefina Schirger invites us to embark on a journey where each poem is a step into the vast terrain of the human experience. The collection becomes not only a series of verses, but also a lyrical odyssey that transcends the boundaries of language, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the poetic magic crafted by the author. May these poems resonate with your own experiences, stir your emotions, and invite you to explore the boundless possibilities that poetry offers. Vasile Poenaru

A collection of modern English poetry from the celebrated author of Lady Chatterly’s Lover. This definitive collection of D. H. Lawrence’s poems, both previously published and some not, presents here with the poems in their intended forms, reversing censorship and correcting long-missed errors for the first time. The texts are accompanied by a comprehensive study of the composition, publication and reception of Lawrence’s most iconic poetry.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) is universally recognized as a towering figure in world literature. This major new collection brings together poems from every decade of Goethe's writing life, in both their German originals and John Whaley's magnificent new translations--complete with their astonishing technical virtuosity, depth of feeling, wit, and occasional bawdry.