This beautifully curated selection of more than 100 uplifting poems of gratitude by well-known and emerging poets, including inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ross Gay, Tracy K. Smith, and more, invites gratefulness into daily life and includes opportunities for reflection and writing, topics for discussion, and reading group questions.
Discover the gift of poetry!
From humorous and uplifting to meditative and moving, these poems provide something for every mood and moment. One hundred of our best-loved and emerging writers offer these relatable reminders to slow down, rediscover the beauty and gifts of ordinary life, and reconnect with the things that matter most. Includes poems from:
Tracy K. Smith
Ross Gay
Naomi Shihab Nye
Ellen Bass
Joy Harjo
Mark Nepo
Jane Hirshfield
Ted Kooser
Amanda Gorman
January Gill O'Neil
Danusha Lameris
Alberto Rios
Accompanied by prompts for reflection, these are poems you'll return to often for inspiration and creative exploration of life's daily gifts.
"How to Love the World is for every one of us who welcomes or misses the fullness of joy and the wholeness of days." — Naomi Shihab Nye, Young People’s Poet Laureate, Poetry Foundation
"You’ll find lots of poets to love within these pages… this book is exactly what we need in these times – or in any." — Elizabeth Berg, author of I'll Be Seeing You and The Story of Arthur Truluv
"The anthology represents a wide range of poetic voices revealing gratitude as an essential emotion that is simple and complex, all around us but also elusive." — The Boston Globe
"This uplifting collection of poems from masterful poets (Amanda Gorman, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, and more) will not only move you but also remind you that joy can be found during times that feel dark. There are some that are tinted in longing (like “Bus Stop” by Laure-Anne Bosselaar) and some that serve as a beautiful reminder of appreciation (“Thankful For Now” by Todd Davis). The visceral, weighty words from these poets invoke meaning in things that may seem meaningless, pushing us to slow down and reflect." — BuzzFeed
"Readers looking for poetic antidotes to today’s chronic anxiety and frenetic news cycle might enjoy turning to this new and highly readable collection. Spend some time with joy and gratitude through deeply felt work from some of poetry’s most trusted voices including inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, Joy Harjo, Tracy K. Smith, Ellen Bass, Ted Kooser, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Hirschfield, and others often featured in the pages of Orion. Interspersed with invitations to write and reflect, this book is designed for discussion and is classroom-ready." — Orion Magazine
