The World Will Follow Joy: Turning Madness into Flowers

by Alice Walker

A poetry collection of “playful and crooning lyricism” from the National Book Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple ( Booklist ).
 
In this dazzling new collection, Alice Walker offers over sixty new poems to incite and nurture contemporary activists. Hailed as a “lavishly gifted writer,” Walker imbues her poetry with evocative images, fresh language, anger, forgiveness, and profound wisdom ( The New York Times ).
 
Casting her eye toward history, politics, and nature, as well as to world figures such as Jimmy Carter, Gloria Steinem, and the Dalai Lama, she “distills struggles, crises, and tragedies down to bright, singing lessons in living with awareness and joy” ( Booklist ).
 
By attentively chronicling the conditions of human life today, Walker shows, as ever, her deep compassion, profound spirituality, and necessary political commitments. The poems in The World Will Follow Joy remind us of our human capacity to come together and take action, even in our troubled political times. “Her spirituality, concern for human rights, and almost old-fashioned, determined joyousness run deep and her devoted readers will want to follow her as she turns ‘madness into flowers’” ( Library Journal ).

Genres: Poetry, Feminism, Nonfiction, Politics, Female Authors, African American, Adult

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

Noted American writer Alice Walker won a Pulitzer Prize for her stance against racism and sexism in such novels as The Color Purple (1982).

People awarded this preeminent author of stories, essays, and poetry of the United States. In 1983, this first African woman for fiction also received the national book award. Her other books include The Third Life of Grange Copeland , Meridian , The Temple of My Familiar , and Possessing the Secret of Joy . In public life, Walker worked to address problems of injustice, inequality, and poverty as an activist, teacher, and public intellectual.

Reviews

[Oswego Public Library District]

Like many of Alice Walker’s works, The World Will Follow Joy: Turning Madness into Flowers, is a book that’s good for the soul. The forward gives light to Walker’s encouraging perspective on life and sets the mood for the poems to follow; Walker writes, “The world – the animals, including us humans - wants to be engaged in something entirely other, seeing, and delighting in, the stark wonder of where we are: This place. This gift. This paradise. We want to follow joy. And we shall.” Walker’s verse in The World Will Follow Joy is usually short with a few words per line, but the impact is big. Every poem feels like Walker is telling heartfelt truth. With her empowering and uplifting poems, readers can trust Walker to be soulful and honest. -JM

Place a hold on The World Will Follow Joy: Turning Madness into Flowers by Alice Walker.

[Hannah Moeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it's nice to take a step back and read good poetry. However, in this collection of poems, Alice Walker does not allow the reader to step back at all. Rather, she challenges us to step up and be good people who share joy and compassion with those less fortunate.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of our best poets are aging, and this year I feel like I've read far too many poems that look back at life and reflect. This calmness and serenity, while a pleasant feeling, isn't necessarily the best fodder for compelling poetry. While I admire Alice Walker and have enjoyed her poetry in the past, this volume is just not my favorite. At the same time, I hope that when I am old and losing my sight, I have found ways to turn madness into flowers and violence into joy, the way she seems to have done.

One of my favorites from this volume is Hope to Sin Only in the Service of Waking Up. It is a nice example of the self-acceptance and optimism that seems to have permeated Walker's work (although she still has quite a few reprimands to give.)

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of poems that begin as good ideas and interesting titles, but ultimately fail to deliver. Lots of line breaks don't necessarily make for good poetry.

[Steven Tomcavage · Rating 1 out of 5]

To me, creating well-written poetry takes more effort than putting your "Deep Thoughts" on paper and then inserting line breaks to make the line-lengths incredibly short. I guess what I'm looking for in poetry is the space to bring in my own interpretation, and then bring in another and another interpretation; with each successive reading bringing me closer to what I see as the "heart" of the poem. These poems don't provide that space. If you're looking for poetry that tells you how to think, this book might be for you.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The World Will Follow Joy by Alice Walker is a series of poems that display optimism and self acceptance.
"Don't waste one moment,
Trying to be someone different.
Or someplace other than where you are."
Another example that I enjoyed is Hope to Sin in the Service of Waking Up.
Walker has found ways to turn madness into flowers and violence into joy. Even though poetry is not my favourite genre, this was a nice diversion.

[JoAnn J. A. Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of poetry. It will touch your heart and move your mind. Many of the lines are short and quick, carrying you forward quickly to an epiphany. The work is eloquent and soulful. I loved these poems and they inspired me to write some of my own.

I highly recommend this beautiful volume.

[Maya Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a beautiful collection of poetry with a beautiful thread i really loved this (4.75 ⭐️)

[Sam Cox]

i don’t know how i feel about this. i love her early work because it had a sense of rawness and a revolutionary spirit that i really connected with, and this work is lacking that for me. a lot of the themes in this collection feel kind of?? ungrounded in reality? like she’s saying if we all just love Mother Nature and each other than every problem would cease to exist or something. maybe i’m oversimplifying but idk it just didn’t connect with me. this and the fact that i recently found out that Walker has been a pretty outspoken antisemite makes me feel a little iffy about her. there are still some good poems in this collection, and i still want to read some of her other work, but i’m definitely more critical of her politics.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that I really loved. There were even more parts of this book where I agreed with what she was saying. She writes of love, of truth, of trying to make the world a better, more compassionate place.

There are some nuggets in this book that made me glad that I read it, but I felt like I had to sift through the chaff to get to them. For the most part, the book didn't feel like poetry to me. The lines were really short (oftentimes only one word per line), and the poems didn't grab me and pull me in. They didn't leave me wanting more.

This is just my interpretation, but some of the poems felt unfinished or too hastily put together. I checked this out from my library expecting more. I admit, that although there were several sections I reread because I enjoyed them so much, most of the book didn't seem like anything particularly special or new.

[Vikki Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry by Alice Walker is filled with hope and the simplicity of joyfulness while also being cuttingly honest about situations that deplete the world of its true capability. Walker’s writing is grounded in the exposure of injustice yet somehow she manages to find a silver lining under, around and beneath the despair that others might wallow about in. Here we have 64 poems to relish where we may confront our inhuman natures while being encouraged towards a participatory activism going forward. Her poetry is succinct and rarely sheltered by hidden meaning; her words are full of impact because she dares us to care about one another.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really dissapointed with this collection, and I usually love Alice Walker. As much as I do see that she has plenty of important things to say in this, I feel like it read more like an essay or platitude collection than a poetry collection, tailored only to specific issues and not to any universal feelings or even unique takes on said issues. Not something I would want to buy (got from a library)

[Catrina Berka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am trying some new strategies to sleep and rest better. One is reading poetry just before going to bed. Walker’s collection is the first one I’ve tried and really enjoyed. She explores God, creation, feminism, socialism, and daily life. Best known for The Color Purple, Walker is an amazing poet as well. I’ve already gone to the library and picked up one of the other collections.

[Smileitsjoy (JoyMelody) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book to read back in January of this year, long before we knew the damage Covid19 was going to cause. And by the time I read it I realized how timely it was and important.
Of course, anything Alice Walker has written is important

[Abby Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to 5 stars! I read this before bed and never remembered to get a pencil, so therefore dog eared (I know!) at least a quarter of my favorite poems. I don’t love her style, but the topics and voice are impeccable and empowering. Highly recommend.

[Anita J. Dupree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, spiritual, hopeful.

[Melblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this in the library quickly and I really appreciate the language in this for its simplicity mixed with complexity. one thing walker does best is truly say what she means and while sometimes I feel like the poem is begging to be a prose piece, I still took a lot from the style of writing in order to give myself permission to say things well and simply!

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these. This collection of poems largely focused on environmental issues as well as unitication: of the world, humankind and womankind.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect mix of philosophy, little life lessons in odd spaces, and great poems. I love anything she writes tbh.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more needs to said than, "Poems written by Alice Walker, magnificent".

She is eloquent, earthy, loving, motherlove, progressive, wise and wonderful.

Oh if the world could only awaken to the healing power of love. She looks at the world and knows it could be better, that we could make it work well for all. Rather than seeing the future as only a apocalyptic nightmare, she knows, if we were to awaken, it could be heaven on earth.

She speaks of earth as our Mother. Which started me thinking----many of those on the more conservative, fundamentalist side of the equation and the patriarchal base that we operate from truly seem to not like women much (except in bed or in the kitchen). So why would they love Mother Earth? Sort of explains why they treat her so badly and deny that we humans are destroying her.

The world is a hopeful place with Alice Walker, Ann Lamott and Maya Angelou in it. (And the Dalai Lama)............

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Alice Walker's world view and admire her charitable work. Her poetry is worth reading, for these insights. I would not count her among the top poets of our day, but certainly as a top writer. I remember being influenced by her essay "in search of our Mothers' gardens" as an undergraduate.

I recall enjoying her poetry book "Horses make the landscape more beautiful," but will have to back and read that book again. Could it be that her poetry writing style has changed dramatically, or is it my point of view which has altered? Either way, my guess is that her strongest writing is her celebrated prose. I wanted very much to hear her speak this week at the ALA conference. Instead I will have to settle on reading some of her fiction or essays in the coming weeks.

Note: definition of peace as justice for the self.
(152)

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The further I read, the more I got into the poems. Two of my favorites were "You Want to Grow Old Like the Carters" and the amazing "Democratic Womanism".

"Democratic Womanism.
Notice how this word has 'man' right in the middle of it?
That's one reason I like it. He is there, front and center: But he is surrounded.

I want to vote and work for a way of of life
that honors the feminine;
a way that acknowledges
the theft of the wisdom
female and dark Mother leadership
might have provided our spaceship
all along."

Reading these poems makes me want to seek out the new documentary "Alice Walker:Beauty in Truth" about her honest, brave life as she "acts on her convictions time and time again." (Yes Magazine, Fall 2013)

[Briana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not her best work. This reads more like a journal of rants and raves, love and love lost, and reflection, rather than a book of poetry. She is very clear on her position about world affairs, sometimes appearing forcefully preachy at times, and while I agree with her, I'm not sure this constitutes as "poetry". When I think of poetry, I think floral, deep, meandering thoughts. This work is very much targeted to specific events and themes that leave very little to the imagination of the reader.

I love her passion and enthusiasm to want to see change in this world of ours. Alice Walker is a beautiful soul.

[Elana · Rating 4 out of 5]

With titles like: "Life Takes its Own Sweet Time", "Why Peace is Always a Good Idea", and "Every Revolution Needs Fresh Poems", Walker tackles all aspects of life - from the sacred to the profane - with her usually wit, wisdom, and profound brilliance and understanding of the world. While not every poem resonated (but in a poetry collection, how often does that happen anyway?), I found enough inspiringly tasty morsels to keep and re-read.
Walker's way of translating her view of the world into words is like drinking from a sweet, flowing spring.

[Harry Brake · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you can read the calmness in the lines of a book, you also have, yes, winner...:) Seeing Alice Walker and talking with her, as well as having the chance for her to sign her book, I feel in love with the way she can gently present words and have emotions and connections easily spill out. The same is true of her book mentioning events that are occurring around us, yet having the talent to want us to read the selections over and over. It is not difficult to see what she has had a tremendous flood of success, her words continue to be a revelation and a person one, time and time again.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

My two star rating may be unfair, because I'm not a fan of poetry and I only read this as part of the Read Harder Challenge. That said, I had high hopes for this book of poetry. I selected this collection based on the summary that said these poems would "incite and nurture contemporary activists". I found most of the poems easy enough to read, but I wanted more background information. I felt as if I were reading Walker's journal, since I knew very little, if anything, about many of her subjects. I did not feel inspired to activism.

[Karen Ashmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a new novel when I put it on my holds list at the library. I was slightly disappointed when I picked it up because I am not a huge poetry fan. But I read it on my deck and enjoyed several of the poems. I particularly liked "Democratic Womanism" (dedicated to my shero Wangari Maathai), "Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (I re-read the Beatitudes just yesterday and asked myself that very same question - where was the comma), and "If I Was President (reminded me of Wyclef song).

[keondra freemyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love love love alice walker's work but have never gotten into her poetry. this is the third collection i've read by her and i still think her form is weak. this book is much more musings than poetry, i would say. in some ways, i love it for being just that. her sentiments are wondrous, as i've come to expect. i rated it a three because it didn't feel like a poetry book. i think it is definitely worth adding to the collection and reading when you have an extra 2-3 hours to spare.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A "token of gratitude, awareness, affection"
P. 183

Notable poems:
"Don't be like those who ask for everything"
"Knowing you might someday come"
"What it feels like"
"You want to grow old like the Carters" (https://instagram.com/p/1ZnulMJTM9/)
"She" (for Gloria Steinem)
"To change the world enough"
"Peonies" (for Oprah Winfrey)
"Life takes its own sweet time"
"This human journey"
"Hope to sin only in the service of walking up"

[Anna Mosca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! If I do not give it a five stars yet is because the first part was not ringing right with me, not sure if it was me or else: will have to read it over a second time in the future. But then the second part is just fantastic, as I was expecting Walker to be, some poems you want to read them over and over, so well structured, so filled with visions, so clear the vision and the wish for a better world! A book I recommend.