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Poems Of Gratitude
For centuries poets in all the world's cultures have offered eloquent thanks and praise for the earth and its people. Both an emotion and a conscious practice, gratitude is a cherishing of what is over what has been or could be. It celebrates the joy in our lives while acknowledging the sorrows and losses that give that joy its keenness. The voices collected here range from Horace to Herrick, from Wordsworth and Keats, Yeats and Frost, to Czeslaw Milosz, Constantine Cavafy, Primo Levi, Langston Hughes, Anne Sexton, Nikki Giovanni, and many many more. Devotional lyrics drawn from the major religious traditions offer their perspectives, alongside poetic tributes to autumn and the harvest season that draw our attention to nature's bounty and poignant beauty as winter approaches.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 25, 2022
In celebration of life, giving thanks…
ETERNITY
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise
~William Blake (1757-1827)
ITHAKA
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
~C.P. Cavafy (1863–1933), translated by Edmund Keeley & Philip Sherrard
LOVE AFTER LOVE
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~Derek Walcott (1930–2017)
WELCOME MORNING
There is joy
in all:
in the hair I brush each morning,
in the Cannon towel, newly washed,
that I rub my body with each morning,
in the chapel of eggs I cook
each morning,
in the outcry from the kettle
that heats my coffee
each morning,
in the spoon and the chair
that cry "hello there, Anne"
each morning,
in the godhead of the table
that I set my silver, plate, cup upon
each morning.
All this is God,
right here in my pea-green house
each morning
and I mean,
though often forget,
to give thanks,
to faint down by the kitchen table
in a prayer of rejoicing
as the holy birds at the kitchen window
peck into their marriage of seeds.
So while I think of it,
let me paint a thank-you on my palm
for this God, this laughter of the morning,
lest it go unspoken.
The Joy that isn't shared, I've heard,
dies young.
~Anne Sexton (1928-1974)
As much as I’d love to continue with more poems, I’m afraid the copyright would forbid it, so a few words about this collection: the poems are divided into several thematic groups — giving thanks, gratitude for family, love, friendship, life, health, nature, as well as reverential and thanksgiving poems. Fragos has already admirably selected and edited a few other collections in this classic beloved series, Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets, though surprisingly some poems included in this selection are at best only tenuously, if at all, related to the theme of gratitude. All the same, it was rewarding to read them all and, while many are especially apt as we in the states reflect on this Thanksgiving Day, their beauty is perennial and joy to read year around.
ETERNITY
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise
~William Blake (1757-1827)
ITHAKA
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
~C.P. Cavafy (1863–1933), translated by Edmund Keeley & Philip Sherrard
LOVE AFTER LOVE
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~Derek Walcott (1930–2017)
WELCOME MORNING
There is joy
in all:
in the hair I brush each morning,
in the Cannon towel, newly washed,
that I rub my body with each morning,
in the chapel of eggs I cook
each morning,
in the outcry from the kettle
that heats my coffee
each morning,
in the spoon and the chair
that cry "hello there, Anne"
each morning,
in the godhead of the table
that I set my silver, plate, cup upon
each morning.
All this is God,
right here in my pea-green house
each morning
and I mean,
though often forget,
to give thanks,
to faint down by the kitchen table
in a prayer of rejoicing
as the holy birds at the kitchen window
peck into their marriage of seeds.
So while I think of it,
let me paint a thank-you on my palm
for this God, this laughter of the morning,
lest it go unspoken.
The Joy that isn't shared, I've heard,
dies young.
~Anne Sexton (1928-1974)
As much as I’d love to continue with more poems, I’m afraid the copyright would forbid it, so a few words about this collection: the poems are divided into several thematic groups — giving thanks, gratitude for family, love, friendship, life, health, nature, as well as reverential and thanksgiving poems. Fragos has already admirably selected and edited a few other collections in this classic beloved series, Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets, though surprisingly some poems included in this selection are at best only tenuously, if at all, related to the theme of gratitude. All the same, it was rewarding to read them all and, while many are especially apt as we in the states reflect on this Thanksgiving Day, their beauty is perennial and joy to read year around.
November 27, 2021
A lovely collection of poems of Thanksgiving - perfect for the end of November.
December 31, 2020
My darling daughter gave me this book for Christmas and I do love it. How could anyone be so churlish as to criticize a book entitled "Poems of Gratitude"? There were so many poems I dog-eared that I wanted to quote here but at last, as a reader, this one spoke to me very insistently.
from "Late Hours" by Lisel Mueller
"In winter we close the window
and read Chekov,
nearly weeping for his world.
What luxury, to be so happy
that we can grieve
over imaginary lives."
And now, on this last day of the year of 2020, I thank my fellow good readers for their contributions and their companionship.
from "Late Hours" by Lisel Mueller
"In winter we close the window
and read Chekov,
nearly weeping for his world.
What luxury, to be so happy
that we can grieve
over imaginary lives."
And now, on this last day of the year of 2020, I thank my fellow good readers for their contributions and their companionship.
November 23, 2022
A complete and satisfying book of thanksgiving poetry, including a wonderful Inupiak song celebrating life above the Arctic Circle!
Recommend!
Recommend!
June 10, 2025
Excellent selection of poems. I carefully and slowly read each poem, choosing to do so outdoors, in nature where I felt most compelled to give thanks . Lovely experience and beautiful selection spanning several centuries and at least two continents
November 26, 2017
It was a great read for this time of year, with a variety of subjects and ending with Thanksgiving. It's been on my list to pick up for a while so when this fall season came, I figured it'd be the perfect time. Poetry is pretty much the best thing for me to read in between courses and assignments. Some of the poetry here was just really beautiful and often with compilations sometimes the poems don't flow well one from another but that was not the case here. At all, and because of that I was able to read and focus more on what the poem was saying as oppose to who wrote it. Recommend for those who love poetry, especially seasonal one.
February 10, 2024
I’ve been reading this collection for months - pretty solid
July 8, 2019
A small, beautiful, and easily carried tome of a wide selection of poems, almost all closely attuned to the theme of gratitude. The poems, drawn the world over and across all epochs, are accompanied by the name of the author and also their dates. Less well-known but gifted poets rub shoulders with the long and universally admired. The poems are organized by theme: Giving Thanks, (gratitude) For Life, For Family, For Love, For Friendship For Health, For Nature, Reverence, and finally Thanksgiving. As in all such compendiums, the length, the weight and the quality of the poems differ but they are universal in their conveying deep appreciation for life with all its trials and tribulations. A perfect gift for anyone remotely interested in poetry, or who needs some non-flippant "bucking up" during one of life's deep ravines or seemingly endless troughs. A Table of Contents at the beginning, and the attached and always appreciated green ribbon bookmark.
November 26, 2018
A lovely little book of poetry. I kept this in my bag and read in it when I had a few moments free. It was a great alternative to checking social media, and perfect to nudge me towards focusing on what I appreciate as we celebrated the spirit of Thanksgiving.
September 1, 2020
I was hoping for poems tightly focused on gratitude. Instead this was broken down into topics for which we give thanks such as life, family, nature, health... Still a very enjoyable collection of poems.
November 17, 2021
Overall an excellent collection--on a favorite theme. I'll be back.
November 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this collection. A pretty high percentage of poems I liked compared to some other poetry books in this series. The groupings of poems mostly made sense. Perfect reading material for Thanksgiving. 🙏🏻🦃
April 29, 2025
Really lovely and diverse selection that is sorted into different categories of things to be thankful about (love, friendship, family, health, nature, but also divinity in different faiths). Often very comforting for me to me and I marked many poems for a later reread.
January 26, 2019
A beautiful collection. Good for short daily readings.
February 23, 2019
Inspiring book that I keep nearby. I often open a random passage to shift to my heart. Lovely compilation.
September 2, 2019
Many wonderful poems.
January 15, 2021
A nice compilation of poetry centered around the thought of gratitude.
February 27, 2021
Not my cup of tea, loving the concept of gathering poems of gratitude though :-)
February 15, 2022
Beautifully laid out with a great variety of poetry. My favorite was “Letter to Mrs. Bixby.”
September 23, 2022
Really amazing collection
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews