The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine
Curated by acclaimed poet Kaveh Akbar, this Penguin Classic unveils a breathtaking anthology of spiritual verse. From humanity's earliest known writer, the Sumerian priestess Enheduanna, to contemporary voices, this collection traverses continents and epochs. It delves into the myriad ways poets have contemplated the divine, finding inspiration in nature, human connection, and the vast cosmos. This volume offers a profound and holistic exploration of the enduring lyric conversation with the sacred, inviting readers into a timeless dialogue on faith and transcendence.
📝 Description: The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine
📑 What's inside
- Introduction
- Enheduanna, from 'Hymn to Inanna'
- Unknown, 'Death of Enkidu', from
- The Epic of Gilgamesh
- Unknown, from
- The Book of the Dead
- Unknown, Song of Songs, chapters 1 and 2
- King David, Psalm 23
- Homer, from
- The Odyssey
- Sappho, Fragments 22 and 118
- Patacara, 'When they plow their fields'
- Lao Tzu, 'Easy by Nature', from
- Tao Te Ching
- Chandaka, Two Cosmologies
- Vyasa, from the
- Bhagavad Gita
- Lucretius, from
- The Nature of Things
- Virgil, from
- The Aeneid
- Shenoute, 'Homily'
- Sengcan, 'The Mind of Absolute Trust'
- From the Quran
- Kakinomoto Hitomaro, 'In praise of Empress Jitō'
- Li Po, 'Drinking Alone Beneath the Moon'
- Rabi'a al-Basri, 'O my lord'
- Ono No Komachi, 'This inn'
- Hanshan, 'Hanshan's Poem'
- Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Khalawayh, 'Names of the Lion'
- Unknown, Anglo-Saxon charm
- Izumi Shikibu, 'Things I Want Decided'
- Li Qingzhao, 'Late Spring'
- Hildegard of Bingen, 'Song to the Creator'
- Mahadeviyakka, 'I do not call it his sign'
- Attar of Nishapur, 'Parable of the Dead Dervishes in the Desert'
- St Francis of Assisi, 'Canticle of the Sun'
- Wumen Huikai, from
- The Gateless Gate
- Rūmī, 'Lift Now the Lid of the Jar of Heaven'
- Mechthild of Magdeburg, 'Of all that God has shown me'
- Saadi Shirazi, 'The Grass Cried Out'
- Thomas Aquinas, 'Lost, All in Wonder'
- Moses de León, from
- The Sepher Zohar
- Dante Alighieri, from
- Inferno, Canto III
- from the
- Sundiata
- Hafez, Ghazal 17
- Yaqui people, 'Deer Song'
- Nezahualcoyotl, 'The Painted Book'
- Kabir, 'Brother, I've seen some'
- Mirabai, 'O friend, understand'
- Yoruba people, from
- A Recitation of Ifa
- Teresa of Ávila, 'Laughter Came from Every Brick'
- Gaspara Stampa, 'Deeply repentant of my sinful ways'
- St John of the Cross, 'O Love's living flame'
- Mayan people, from the
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💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers seeking a broad, accessible entry point into the vast landscape of global spirituality will find immense value in this anthology. Kaveh Akbar’s curation offers a profound exploration of how poets from Enheduanna to modern voices have contemplated the divine through nature and human connection. It is ideal for those who wish to witness the timeless dialogue on faith and transcendence without being confined to a single religious tradition. The book serves as a comforting companion for spiritual seekers, providing a holistic view of the sacred that invites contemplation across millennia, making it perfect for anyone wanting to feel part of this enduring, global conversation.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
This anthology succeeds in its ambitious goal of mapping the global spiritual imagination through verse. However, readers expecting rigorous theological analysis or dense academic commentary will likely find it lacking in depth. It is not suited for those who prefer singular doctrinal perspectives over a pluralistic survey. While the breadth is impressive, the sheer volume of poets may feel overwhelming to some, and the lack of extensive critical apparatus might disappoint scholars. Nevertheless, as a lyrical journey through the divine, it remains a beautiful, if somewhat surface-level, introduction to the shared human experience of transcendence.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you seek to understand the depth and breadth of human spiritual experience through the beauty of poetry, this collection is for you. It's ideal for those interested in world religions, comparative spirituality, or simply the profound power of words to articulate the ineffable.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Global Spiritual Tapestry
This anthology meticulously weaves together spiritual expressions from across the world. Readers will encounter voices from ancient Sumeria and China, alongside verses from medieval Europe and modern-day Africa, demonstrating the universal human impulse to connect with the divine, regardless of geographical or cultural boundaries.
Timeless Human Inquiry
Spanning from antiquity to the present, the collection reveals a persistent and evolving human quest for understanding the sacred. It highlights how fundamental questions about existence, purpose, and the divine have echoed through generations, offering comfort and insight across historical divides.
Diverse Poetic Expressions
Beyond canonical figures like Blake and Dickinson, the book celebrates a rich array of lesser-known or under-anthologized poets. This diversity showcases the vast stylistic and thematic approaches to spiritual contemplation, ensuring a fresh and expansive perspective on sacred verse.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Anthology
- Canonical Voices
- Enheduanna
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on a poem in this collection that deeply resonated with you. How does it articulate a spiritual truth you've felt but perhaps not named?
- Consider the vast span of time covered. What similarities and differences do you observe in how poets across different eras approach the concept of the divine?
- If you were to contribute a poem to this anthology, what spiritual experience or insight would you choose to express, and why?
