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The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems
Christians throughout the ages have written poetry as a way to commune with and teach about God, communicating rich truths and enduring beauty through their art. These poems, when read devotionally, provide a unique way for Christians to deepen their spiritual insight and experience. In this collection of over 90 poems by poets such as Emily Dickinson, T. S. Eliot, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, and over 30 more, literary expert Leland Ryken introduces readers to the best of the best in devotional poetry, providing commentary that helps them see and appreciate not only the literary beauty of these poems but also the spiritual truths they contain. Literary-inclined readers and first-time poetry readers alike will relish this one-of-a-kind anthology carefully compiled to help them encounter God in fresh ways.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 31, 2018
110 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Leland Ryken
128 books139 followersDr. Ryken has served on the faculty of Wheaton College since 1968. He has published over thirty books and more than one hundred articles and essays, devoting much of his scholarship to Bible translations and the study of the Bible as literature. He served as Literary Chairman for the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible and in 2003 received the distinguished Gutenberg Award for his contributions to education, writing, and the understanding of the Bible.
He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken
He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 13, 2018
It’s been a long time since I browsed in a Christian bookstore. They’re exceptionally rare here in Maine, but on one of my last excursions, I inquired about the poetry section hoping to lay hands on something by Luci Shaw or Marjorie Maddox. Alas, it was not to be on this day.
“We don’t carry poetry,” I was informed, in a tone that somehow made a virtue out of the omission, and given the disappointing nature of the Christian poetry that has found its way onto greeting cards and into cheerfully vapid collections over the years, maybe it’s just as well to save shelf space for more substantial material. Of course, the tragedy is that poorly written inspirational verse has inoculated the church against the rich treasury of devotional poetry that is part of our heritage and our history. Taking the religious life as its subject, devotional poetry shows rather than tells, suggests rather than argues, and has the lovely effect of prompting “us to think about God and spiritual truth.” (14)
Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College for nearly 50 years, has done us the tremendous favor of sorting through the endless possibilities of great works and narrowing the field down to a manageable representative collection that begins with the oldest surviving poem in the English language and works its way up through modern times. The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems provides helpful commentary on each work, beginning with explanation of unfamiliar or archaic terms and then moving on to enhance the reader’s understanding of artistry and content while noting specific devotional aspects of the poem.
Ryken’s contributors include all the Johns (Milton, Donne, Bunyan, Dryden) and the Williams (Draper, Shakespeare, Wordsworth) along with a multitude of well-loved names including George Herbert, Gerard Manley Hopkins, C.S. Lewis, Christina Rossetti, Anne Bradstreet, and the Brontë Sisters. Perhaps the greatest treasure, however, is his inclusion of lesser known poets who wrote with great depth of soul. Exercising considerable restraint, I will share a few favorite excerpts along with insights from the commentary that have added to my contemplation of their deep theological truth and have enhanced my understanding of the rich mode of expression used by skillful poets throughout history.
On the Incarnation:
“‘Twas much, that man was made like God before,
But, that God would be made like man, much more.” (78)
“It is commonplace in Christian thinking that God made man in his own image. John Donne reverses that fact in a thought that is so unexpected that it can be considered a paradox: it is even more noteworthy that in the incarnation God was made in the image of man. [These] lines are an aphorism (a succinct and striking statement that we remember.)” (80)
On Human Restlessness:
“Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.” (92)
In these words put in God’s mouth by George Herbert, “we are given the reason why God created people to be restless in the world. The poet imagines that God created people with a built-in ‘pulley’ that draws them to God.” (93)
On the Key to a Meaningful Life:
I confess to finding Milton’s writing to be beyond challenging — inscrutable, even — without assistance, but with the insights from Ryken’s notes alongside a slow and careful read, this excerpt in Adam’s words from the epic poem Paradise Lost are a road map for life in a fallen world:
“Henceforth I learn that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him sole depend.” (133)
On the Place of Lament in the Life of a Believer:
Anne Bradstreet’s “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House” renders tragedy in verse without trivializing it. “The pitfall that a poet needs to avoid in a poem like this is allowing the consolation to come across as facile (too easily achieved and glibly stated). Bradstreet meets the challenge by fully acknowledging the human and earthly loss that she has sustained.” (137)
“My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy table eat a bit . . .
Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on moldering dust,
The arm of flesh dist make thy trust?” (136)
By her example, we may carve out our own faithful living of lament and peaceful acceptance of the will of God.
The Soul in Paraphrase as a title has been lifted from a poem by George Herbert:
“Prayer, the church’s banquet, angel’s age,
God’s breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heaven and earth.” (8)
Herbert is referring to prayer, the ability to live in God’s presence as angels live, but Ryken argues that devotional poetry serves the soul in the same way, rendering and representing our souls in words that we might have come up with ourselves— if only we had the skill.
Many thanks to Crossway for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty
“We don’t carry poetry,” I was informed, in a tone that somehow made a virtue out of the omission, and given the disappointing nature of the Christian poetry that has found its way onto greeting cards and into cheerfully vapid collections over the years, maybe it’s just as well to save shelf space for more substantial material. Of course, the tragedy is that poorly written inspirational verse has inoculated the church against the rich treasury of devotional poetry that is part of our heritage and our history. Taking the religious life as its subject, devotional poetry shows rather than tells, suggests rather than argues, and has the lovely effect of prompting “us to think about God and spiritual truth.” (14)
Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College for nearly 50 years, has done us the tremendous favor of sorting through the endless possibilities of great works and narrowing the field down to a manageable representative collection that begins with the oldest surviving poem in the English language and works its way up through modern times. The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems provides helpful commentary on each work, beginning with explanation of unfamiliar or archaic terms and then moving on to enhance the reader’s understanding of artistry and content while noting specific devotional aspects of the poem.
Ryken’s contributors include all the Johns (Milton, Donne, Bunyan, Dryden) and the Williams (Draper, Shakespeare, Wordsworth) along with a multitude of well-loved names including George Herbert, Gerard Manley Hopkins, C.S. Lewis, Christina Rossetti, Anne Bradstreet, and the Brontë Sisters. Perhaps the greatest treasure, however, is his inclusion of lesser known poets who wrote with great depth of soul. Exercising considerable restraint, I will share a few favorite excerpts along with insights from the commentary that have added to my contemplation of their deep theological truth and have enhanced my understanding of the rich mode of expression used by skillful poets throughout history.
On the Incarnation:
“‘Twas much, that man was made like God before,
But, that God would be made like man, much more.” (78)
“It is commonplace in Christian thinking that God made man in his own image. John Donne reverses that fact in a thought that is so unexpected that it can be considered a paradox: it is even more noteworthy that in the incarnation God was made in the image of man. [These] lines are an aphorism (a succinct and striking statement that we remember.)” (80)
On Human Restlessness:
“Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.” (92)
In these words put in God’s mouth by George Herbert, “we are given the reason why God created people to be restless in the world. The poet imagines that God created people with a built-in ‘pulley’ that draws them to God.” (93)
On the Key to a Meaningful Life:
I confess to finding Milton’s writing to be beyond challenging — inscrutable, even — without assistance, but with the insights from Ryken’s notes alongside a slow and careful read, this excerpt in Adam’s words from the epic poem Paradise Lost are a road map for life in a fallen world:
“Henceforth I learn that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him sole depend.” (133)
On the Place of Lament in the Life of a Believer:
Anne Bradstreet’s “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House” renders tragedy in verse without trivializing it. “The pitfall that a poet needs to avoid in a poem like this is allowing the consolation to come across as facile (too easily achieved and glibly stated). Bradstreet meets the challenge by fully acknowledging the human and earthly loss that she has sustained.” (137)
“My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy table eat a bit . . .
Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on moldering dust,
The arm of flesh dist make thy trust?” (136)
By her example, we may carve out our own faithful living of lament and peaceful acceptance of the will of God.
The Soul in Paraphrase as a title has been lifted from a poem by George Herbert:
“Prayer, the church’s banquet, angel’s age,
God’s breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heaven and earth.” (8)
Herbert is referring to prayer, the ability to live in God’s presence as angels live, but Ryken argues that devotional poetry serves the soul in the same way, rendering and representing our souls in words that we might have come up with ourselves— if only we had the skill.
Many thanks to Crossway for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty
September 23, 2019
I really struggled to find much about this I enjoyed other than the wonderful layout and packaging. The poems were not ones, largely, that I connected with in a devotional or soul manner and the commentary on each felt much more like technical literary matter than anything to help the soul. It felt like a collection of overtly Christian poems for the most part with portions of Ryken's class notes attached.
July 30, 2020
A lovely collection that has introduced me to many new favorite poems that read like a steadying, deep breath of fresh air. It paired very well with Scripture reading for me.
March 4, 2024
A nice collection of poems to warm the heart and point the mind to God's glory. Ryken's knowledge of these poems along with their authors is included in the commentary notes section to help the reader understand the context and interpretation. Crossway has done a great job with the layout and production of this book. Highly recommended for the Christian to see how others have pondered the mysteries of Christ.
November 17, 2021
Really wonderful collection of poems. The explanations are well done, too.
January 7, 2023
Wonderful collection of Christian poetry with helpful insight.
March 2, 2021
The Soul in Paraphrase by Leland Ryken is a collection of spiritual and devotional poems in the name of God above. Classic devotional poems that revolve around the purity of the god, this is a beautiful collection, followed by the compiler's commentaries after each poem. I liked how the compiler researched so many poems searching for and finalizing on the ones that were needed to be in the book. (Some dated back to the seventh century— or at least one did, that is supposedly the oldest poem of all times, so yeah, I am definitely impressed.) I also liked how the little commentaries he provided after each poem, talking about his interpretations of them.
What I liked the most about the book was that it featured poems from people as famous as William Shakespeare (well, a sonnet, really) and as "non"-famous as well, non-famous poets. In fact, some were even anonymous! I got invited to a large number of new poets, people I hadn't even heard of before and this brightened me amazingly. I loved the devotion these poems had for God. Yet, I must admit, I was a tad bit bored with the author's commentary. I mean, sure, it was good that it helped me understand the poems and everything else but still... it bored me a teeny tiny bit and I wanted to skip through them and go on to the next poem instantly. This is the reason why I have given the book a 3 star rating. So I hope you understand. :)
What I liked the most about the book was that it featured poems from people as famous as William Shakespeare (well, a sonnet, really) and as "non"-famous as well, non-famous poets. In fact, some were even anonymous! I got invited to a large number of new poets, people I hadn't even heard of before and this brightened me amazingly. I loved the devotion these poems had for God. Yet, I must admit, I was a tad bit bored with the author's commentary. I mean, sure, it was good that it helped me understand the poems and everything else but still... it bored me a teeny tiny bit and I wanted to skip through them and go on to the next poem instantly. This is the reason why I have given the book a 3 star rating. So I hope you understand. :)
July 6, 2022
A compelling selection. Esp. the Old and Middle English works, which felt primal, pure – like faith-ancestors excavated for us.
Ryken’s opening essay is a shining, elegant manifesto for Christian poetry. Forget twee greetings cards. We’ve been impoverished by Christmas sentiment. Poetry sharpens the soul; helps us imbibe salvation sweetness; makes truth sound and sing.
These are hard-earned poems, hewn out of hurt and hope, by some of the greatest writers of the past. Milton, Rossetti, Coleridge, Eliot and Wordsworth all make the roll call.
Ryken isn’t afraid to include the Romantics. Some of his best insights are when he helps us glean gold from the ‘poetry of common experience’. He doesn’t pander to it, but he’s not needlessly snooty, either. Still, the most sumptuous verses are easily by the explicitly Christian poets – Herbert and Hopkins.
Downfall? Ryken’s commentaries are like wedges of cardboard between slices of bright fruit. He can’t decide whether he wants to offer devotional prompts or analysis of the mechanics of each poem. He goes for the latter – which is maybe helpful for newbies to literature, but becomes repetitive (especially given his obsession with pointing out a blindingly obvious ababab rhyme scheme).
Ryken’s opening essay is a shining, elegant manifesto for Christian poetry. Forget twee greetings cards. We’ve been impoverished by Christmas sentiment. Poetry sharpens the soul; helps us imbibe salvation sweetness; makes truth sound and sing.
These are hard-earned poems, hewn out of hurt and hope, by some of the greatest writers of the past. Milton, Rossetti, Coleridge, Eliot and Wordsworth all make the roll call.
Ryken isn’t afraid to include the Romantics. Some of his best insights are when he helps us glean gold from the ‘poetry of common experience’. He doesn’t pander to it, but he’s not needlessly snooty, either. Still, the most sumptuous verses are easily by the explicitly Christian poets – Herbert and Hopkins.
Downfall? Ryken’s commentaries are like wedges of cardboard between slices of bright fruit. He can’t decide whether he wants to offer devotional prompts or analysis of the mechanics of each poem. He goes for the latter – which is maybe helpful for newbies to literature, but becomes repetitive (especially given his obsession with pointing out a blindingly obvious ababab rhyme scheme).
December 24, 2019
Great selection of poems, and very helpful short commentary with each one. Ryken points out some of the literary devices in the writing and mentions themes to meditate further on. His comments help readers linger on the poems, directing us to look closer at the technical marvels of the poetry as well as deeper into the themes and metaphors. I learned a lot about how to read poetry; and of course found lots of new favorite poems!
June 24, 2022
This has been perhaps the most life-giving book I have read this year. (Other than the Bible, of course.) Simply taking one poem per day, reading it out loud, then reading Ryken's notes, then reading it out loud again has been like a... well, I'm not a poet, so I don't know what. But my appetite has been sharpened for more of this! (Which was the whole point of choosing this book all along.)
January 2, 2019
The Soul in Paraphrase is “an anthology of the best devotional poetry in English” edited by Leland Ryken, a long-time professor of English at Wheaton College, now retired. It takes its title from a line in George Herbert’s “Prayer,” which describes praying as “The soul in paraphrase,” among other things. The anthology presents 98 poems from “Caedmon’s Hymn” (the oldest extant English poem) to works by T. S. Eliot. Ryken’s scholarly remarks follow each poem.
Ryken defines devotional poetry in both objective and subjective terms. Objectively, it “takes specifically spiritual experience for its subject matter,” which for Christian poets can include topics such as “the person and work of God, conviction and confession of sin, forgiveness, worship of God, and the church calendar with events like Christmas and Easter.”
Subjectively, devotional poetry has an “effect on a reader.” It “fixes our thoughts on the spiritual life and inspires us toward excellence in it.” Because of this subjective effect, Ryken includes in his anthology poems of what he calls “the poetry of common experience or clarification.” Such poetry “does not signal a specifically Christian identity but is congruent with Christianity.” Because of this, it need not be written by Christian poets.
As noted above, each poem is followed by Ryken’s “Notes on selected words” and “Commentary.” At first, I thought the definitions and commentary had an unweaving-the-rainbow quality to them. However, the deeper into the volume I got, the more I valued Ryken’s scholarly remarks because they helped me better understand what I had read.
Because of that, I would recommend that you read the poem first, then read Ryken’s explanatory words, then go back and re-read the poem. Doing so will help you better appreciate the literary art and spiritual insight of each poem. These poems repay careful and repeated reading.
I should add that I took two courses on English literature from Prof. Ryken when I attended Wheaton College (1987–1991). I thoroughly enjoyed both classes, especially the one on John Milton’s poetry. If you like this volume, I would encourage you to read his books on reading the Bible as literature, especially Words of Delight, A Complete Handbook of Literary Forms in the Bible, and Literary Introductions to Books of the Bible.
One final note: Crossway is to be commended for printing an anthology of poetry in a beautiful hardcover with thick pages. Good poetry is a marriage of form and content, so it’s nice to see a publisher recognizing that good books are too.
Book Reviewed
Leland Ryken, ed., The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018).
P.S. If you liked my review, please vote “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.
Ryken defines devotional poetry in both objective and subjective terms. Objectively, it “takes specifically spiritual experience for its subject matter,” which for Christian poets can include topics such as “the person and work of God, conviction and confession of sin, forgiveness, worship of God, and the church calendar with events like Christmas and Easter.”
Subjectively, devotional poetry has an “effect on a reader.” It “fixes our thoughts on the spiritual life and inspires us toward excellence in it.” Because of this subjective effect, Ryken includes in his anthology poems of what he calls “the poetry of common experience or clarification.” Such poetry “does not signal a specifically Christian identity but is congruent with Christianity.” Because of this, it need not be written by Christian poets.
As noted above, each poem is followed by Ryken’s “Notes on selected words” and “Commentary.” At first, I thought the definitions and commentary had an unweaving-the-rainbow quality to them. However, the deeper into the volume I got, the more I valued Ryken’s scholarly remarks because they helped me better understand what I had read.
Because of that, I would recommend that you read the poem first, then read Ryken’s explanatory words, then go back and re-read the poem. Doing so will help you better appreciate the literary art and spiritual insight of each poem. These poems repay careful and repeated reading.
I should add that I took two courses on English literature from Prof. Ryken when I attended Wheaton College (1987–1991). I thoroughly enjoyed both classes, especially the one on John Milton’s poetry. If you like this volume, I would encourage you to read his books on reading the Bible as literature, especially Words of Delight, A Complete Handbook of Literary Forms in the Bible, and Literary Introductions to Books of the Bible.
One final note: Crossway is to be commended for printing an anthology of poetry in a beautiful hardcover with thick pages. Good poetry is a marriage of form and content, so it’s nice to see a publisher recognizing that good books are too.
Book Reviewed
Leland Ryken, ed., The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018).
P.S. If you liked my review, please vote “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.
June 1, 2020
This is an exceptional anthology for deepening both Christian devotion and poetic appreciation, and Dr. Ryken is a superb guide into these depths. I was continually impressed with the balance he strikes between academic rigor and common accessibility. The brief introduction is insightful, and the commentary on the poems is almost always helpful. He invites readers--whether scholarly or simple--to slow their minds enough that they can examine the beauty of individual words and the intricacy of their arrangement.
Although I did read the whole book from cover to cover (at a rate of about one poem a day), it would serve equally well as something to pick up and peruse. A number of helpful indices might guide those looking for particular devotional material. A complete reading, though, has the additional benefit of providing a miniature tour through the scope of English literature from medieval to modern times.
Anthologies by their very nature can never please readers perfectly. A dearly beloved piece will have been omitted, while some of the included selections will seem less than worthy. For my own part, I would not have included some of the entries from Romantic-era poets with overt pantheistic tendencies. I have a hard time reading these as Christian devotional poetry since I am so keenly aware their authors eschewed a true Christian faith. Nevertheless, Dr. Ryken makes a case for including these as what he deems "literature of common experience," which Christians may read with a deeper understanding than even the authors may have known.
That small quibble aside, I highly recommend this book. In addition to its excellent content, it is a beautifully bound volume, which is a joy to possess in the midst of our e-book, paperback world. And how entirely appropriate for a book that teaches us how form has as much to communicate as words to be itself bound in such a lovely form. It is a treasury indeed.
Although I did read the whole book from cover to cover (at a rate of about one poem a day), it would serve equally well as something to pick up and peruse. A number of helpful indices might guide those looking for particular devotional material. A complete reading, though, has the additional benefit of providing a miniature tour through the scope of English literature from medieval to modern times.
Anthologies by their very nature can never please readers perfectly. A dearly beloved piece will have been omitted, while some of the included selections will seem less than worthy. For my own part, I would not have included some of the entries from Romantic-era poets with overt pantheistic tendencies. I have a hard time reading these as Christian devotional poetry since I am so keenly aware their authors eschewed a true Christian faith. Nevertheless, Dr. Ryken makes a case for including these as what he deems "literature of common experience," which Christians may read with a deeper understanding than even the authors may have known.
That small quibble aside, I highly recommend this book. In addition to its excellent content, it is a beautifully bound volume, which is a joy to possess in the midst of our e-book, paperback world. And how entirely appropriate for a book that teaches us how form has as much to communicate as words to be itself bound in such a lovely form. It is a treasury indeed.
November 7, 2020
This is a wonderful collection of devotional poems. Not only is the book beautifully bound and designed, but the selected poems and commentary are also rich and rewarding. Ryken arranges the poems chronologically and he draws from both Christian and non-Christian poets to convey a range of spiritual insights and reflections. At times Ryken sounds like an English professor, but he does so as a teacher and guide, imbuing his poetry notes with wise biblical guidance and application. I read through this book during my morning devotions and was greatly encouraged.
January 16, 2020
This is a brilliant collection of poetry for someone very new to reading poetry. Ryker has put together a diverse assortment of Christian poems from a vast array of sources. It introduces the reader to various styles, and Ryken’s commentary on each poem is invaluable.
December 14, 2022
Interesting stuff, Ryken's commentary has given me ideas of things to try out when I write. I also found this anthology a great starting point for exploring the works of poets who have articulated their thoughts and experiences of faith more eloquently and skillfully than I ever can.
July 25, 2024
It was good to read aloud with my husband over the summer. Poetry isn’t something we are naturally drawn to, especially poems that are up to 400 years old! But the explanations after each poem were helpful and it was a good use of our time together. Poetry is pretty neat.
November 21, 2019
This book was a gift from Darrin for Christmas last year. For that reason and many others, I will hold it with fondness in my heart and mind. I am more educated for having read it and am more aware of how the poets through the ages have expressed their thoughts and feelings about God. Leland Ryken is an excellent guide.
December 29, 2024
Really enjoyable and worshipful anthology and poetic commentary/explanations.
March 2, 2025
Gorgeous. Full review on my blog. :)
June 4, 2024
Really enjoyed this collection overall- Brian got it for me at Christmas 2020 and we’ve been slowly reading through it in the mornings ever since (we’ve taken some very long breaks). George Herbert is always our favorite! But enjoyed others too and it’s helpful to have commentary.
January 1, 2024
This book is beautifully designed. However I just couldn’t get into it. I don’t know if it was the poems chosen, which I just didn’t care for; or if it was the layout with notes included. The notes distracted from and diminished the beauty of the poetry. It was almost like class notes on poems which just tended to make the poems sterile and boring. I’m normally a Ryken fan, and I love John Donne. But this volume just seemed to deaden all this poetry instead of bring it to life.
November 4, 2019
"Prayer the church's banquet, angel's age,
God's breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heav'n and earth
Engine against th' Almighty, sinner's tow'r,
Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear,
The six-days world transposing in an hour,
A kind of tune, which all things hear and fear;
Softness, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliss,
Exalted manna, gladness of the best,
Heaven in ordinary, man well drest,
The milky way, the bird of Paradise,
Church-bells beyond the stars heard, the soul's blood,
The land of spices; something understood."
- George Herbert
I slowly worked my way through this collection of devotional poems. After all, poetry, more than just about any other genre, is something to be savored. Even without Dr. Ryken's word notes and brief commentary on each poem, this would still be a great book for any Christian to have. There is much beauty to be found in both the form and content (in this review, I have included just one of many I enjoyed). William Shakespeare, John Donne, George Herbert, and John Milton in particular have an outstanding presence in this collection.
I do wish that the commentary had been a little less technical. It's exactly what you would expect an excellent English professor to say, but it doesn't necessarily encourage readers to exult in these poems for their devotional benefits. Like I mentioned above, however, you can benefit from these poems even if you never look at Dr. Ryken's commentary. Read them slowly and thoughtfully, use the notes section to help you understand unfamiliar words and phrases, and you will find plenty that speaks to your soul.
Regarding that "Notes on selected words" section for each poem—I found it somewhat unwieldy. There ought to be line numbers included after each word/phrase (consequently, there ought to be some line markers in the margins for each poem, too) to make it easier for the reader to locate the word in question within the full text of the poem.
God's breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heav'n and earth
Engine against th' Almighty, sinner's tow'r,
Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear,
The six-days world transposing in an hour,
A kind of tune, which all things hear and fear;
Softness, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliss,
Exalted manna, gladness of the best,
Heaven in ordinary, man well drest,
The milky way, the bird of Paradise,
Church-bells beyond the stars heard, the soul's blood,
The land of spices; something understood."
- George Herbert
I slowly worked my way through this collection of devotional poems. After all, poetry, more than just about any other genre, is something to be savored. Even without Dr. Ryken's word notes and brief commentary on each poem, this would still be a great book for any Christian to have. There is much beauty to be found in both the form and content (in this review, I have included just one of many I enjoyed). William Shakespeare, John Donne, George Herbert, and John Milton in particular have an outstanding presence in this collection.
I do wish that the commentary had been a little less technical. It's exactly what you would expect an excellent English professor to say, but it doesn't necessarily encourage readers to exult in these poems for their devotional benefits. Like I mentioned above, however, you can benefit from these poems even if you never look at Dr. Ryken's commentary. Read them slowly and thoughtfully, use the notes section to help you understand unfamiliar words and phrases, and you will find plenty that speaks to your soul.
Regarding that "Notes on selected words" section for each poem—I found it somewhat unwieldy. There ought to be line numbers included after each word/phrase (consequently, there ought to be some line markers in the margins for each poem, too) to make it easier for the reader to locate the word in question within the full text of the poem.
September 22, 2018
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I received a digital copy of this book on Netgalley.
The Soul in Paraphrase by Leland Ryken is a collection of spiritual and devotional poems in the name of God above. Classic devotional poems that revolve around the purity of the god, this is a beautiful collection, followed by the compiler's commentaries after each poem. I liked how the compiler researched so many poems searching for and finalizing on the ones that were needed to be in the book. (Some dated back to the seventh century— or at least one did, that is supposedly the oldest poem of all times, so yeah, I am definitely impressed.) I also liked how the little commentaries he provided after each poem, talking about his interpretations of them.
What I liked the most about the book was that it featured poems from people as famous as William Shakespeare (well, a sonnet, really) and as "non"-famous as well, non-famous poets. In fact, some were even anonymous! I got invited to a large number of new poets, people I hadn't even heard of before and this brightened me amazingly. I loved the devotion these poems had for God. Yet, I must admit, I was a tad bit bored with the author's commentary. I mean, sure, it was good that it helped me understand the poems and everything else but still... it bored me a teeny tiny bit and I wanted to skip through them and go on to the next poem instantly. This is the reason why I have given the book a 3 star rating. So I hope you understand. :)
I received a digital copy of this book on Netgalley.
The Soul in Paraphrase by Leland Ryken is a collection of spiritual and devotional poems in the name of God above. Classic devotional poems that revolve around the purity of the god, this is a beautiful collection, followed by the compiler's commentaries after each poem. I liked how the compiler researched so many poems searching for and finalizing on the ones that were needed to be in the book. (Some dated back to the seventh century— or at least one did, that is supposedly the oldest poem of all times, so yeah, I am definitely impressed.) I also liked how the little commentaries he provided after each poem, talking about his interpretations of them.
What I liked the most about the book was that it featured poems from people as famous as William Shakespeare (well, a sonnet, really) and as "non"-famous as well, non-famous poets. In fact, some were even anonymous! I got invited to a large number of new poets, people I hadn't even heard of before and this brightened me amazingly. I loved the devotion these poems had for God. Yet, I must admit, I was a tad bit bored with the author's commentary. I mean, sure, it was good that it helped me understand the poems and everything else but still... it bored me a teeny tiny bit and I wanted to skip through them and go on to the next poem instantly. This is the reason why I have given the book a 3 star rating. So I hope you understand. :)
December 1, 2018
At the outset, Ryken makes clear that there are several ways to define devotional poems. Some may be focused on spiritual topics, others may be devotional because of how they affect the reader. “If a poem prompts us to think about God and spiritual truth, if it deepens our spiritual insight and experience, and if it awakens a greater love of God and desire to be like him, it has served a devotional purpose” (location 127).
For each poem included, he has a section that explains or defines certain words and then he explains what the poem means. Sometimes there is a little poetry lesson on cadence or some other poetical feature. I appreciated the wide range of poetry included. Besides clearly spiritual ones, he included some sonnets by Shakespeare and poems by John Donne that I wouldn’t have thought to include in a devotional poem book but that make sense to me there now.
I loved this sentence from a 14th century anonymous poet. “A child is born in the midst of man, and in that child there was no sin; that child is God, that child is man, and in that child our life began” (location 342).
I enjoyed reading a poem or two in the morning with my devotions. I often struggle to understand poetry so I appreciated the notes included. This book wouldn’t appeal to everyone. But if you’re like me and think you’d enjoy it if you just understood it, give this book a try. I’d recommend it.
Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
For each poem included, he has a section that explains or defines certain words and then he explains what the poem means. Sometimes there is a little poetry lesson on cadence or some other poetical feature. I appreciated the wide range of poetry included. Besides clearly spiritual ones, he included some sonnets by Shakespeare and poems by John Donne that I wouldn’t have thought to include in a devotional poem book but that make sense to me there now.
I loved this sentence from a 14th century anonymous poet. “A child is born in the midst of man, and in that child there was no sin; that child is God, that child is man, and in that child our life began” (location 342).
I enjoyed reading a poem or two in the morning with my devotions. I often struggle to understand poetry so I appreciated the notes included. This book wouldn’t appeal to everyone. But if you’re like me and think you’d enjoy it if you just understood it, give this book a try. I’d recommend it.
Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
December 6, 2018
Devotional Poetry at Its Finest!
This book, as the subtitle says, is a treasury of classical devotional poems that are sure to touch your heart with each reading. The author, Leland Ryken, takes the reader chronologically through 91 poems, starting with the earliest recorded English poem all the way up to modern, classic poetry. The book really is a work of art and a gift to all readers for the masterful work of collecting these beautiful poems.
The book is laid out simply so that you can read a poem and see the author's list of definitions corresponding to the poem, helping those of us who don't know the meaning of some of those old English words. Each poem is followed by a short commentary from the author that helps the reader catch the nuances they may have missed while pulling out themes and summarizing the overall intent of the original author of the poem.
Whether you're a fan of poetry or not, you definitely want to check out this book and keep it on hand for devotional use that will take you back in time and deeper in your relationship with God!
You can find my full review at [http://heinspiredme.com/book-review-s...]
This book, as the subtitle says, is a treasury of classical devotional poems that are sure to touch your heart with each reading. The author, Leland Ryken, takes the reader chronologically through 91 poems, starting with the earliest recorded English poem all the way up to modern, classic poetry. The book really is a work of art and a gift to all readers for the masterful work of collecting these beautiful poems.
The book is laid out simply so that you can read a poem and see the author's list of definitions corresponding to the poem, helping those of us who don't know the meaning of some of those old English words. Each poem is followed by a short commentary from the author that helps the reader catch the nuances they may have missed while pulling out themes and summarizing the overall intent of the original author of the poem.
Whether you're a fan of poetry or not, you definitely want to check out this book and keep it on hand for devotional use that will take you back in time and deeper in your relationship with God!
You can find my full review at [http://heinspiredme.com/book-review-s...]
November 11, 2024
It’s difficult to rate a book you’ve read in bite-sized pieces over almost an entire year, so this rating is entirely dependent on my personal experience and not any sort of literary standard.
That being said — this anthology was a gift to my soul. Whenever I had extra space in my morning, I would read one or two poems. This book widened my knowledge and experience of the poetic greats, but more than that deepened my love for the Lord and the expression of that love through poetry. It was also such a gift to read Leland Ryken’s commentary after each poem! I learned so much and will continue to read this book over and over again.
That being said — this anthology was a gift to my soul. Whenever I had extra space in my morning, I would read one or two poems. This book widened my knowledge and experience of the poetic greats, but more than that deepened my love for the Lord and the expression of that love through poetry. It was also such a gift to read Leland Ryken’s commentary after each poem! I learned so much and will continue to read this book over and over again.
October 25, 2019
Ryken has compiled an enjoyable anthology of poems. I don't normally read much poetry so this was new to me. Some of the selections were very enjoyable while others required a bit too much contemplation for me - but others who are prepared to spend the effort might enjoy them. Accompanying each poem are some notes on words and a commentary on the poem. While the commentary is particularly helpful for some of the more difficult poems, for others it comes across as being incongruously dry in comparison to the richness of the poem.
November 7, 2020
3.5 stars
I read ~1-2 poems a day with accompanying analyses (2-3 pages per entry). Ryken’s commentary makes lovely poetry accessible to those with little prior exposure (especially the metaphysical poets). The works are all from the public domain, so don’t expect poems from the 20-21st century. His goal is devotional contemplation, not academic criticism. Further, he’s open to “plundering the Egyptians,” so expect some stretching of application.
One minor complaint: The hardback has nicely sewn pages, but the printing quality often lapses, unacceptably for a book at this price point.
I read ~1-2 poems a day with accompanying analyses (2-3 pages per entry). Ryken’s commentary makes lovely poetry accessible to those with little prior exposure (especially the metaphysical poets). The works are all from the public domain, so don’t expect poems from the 20-21st century. His goal is devotional contemplation, not academic criticism. Further, he’s open to “plundering the Egyptians,” so expect some stretching of application.
One minor complaint: The hardback has nicely sewn pages, but the printing quality often lapses, unacceptably for a book at this price point.
March 6, 2023
I am not a poem reader by nature, but I appreciate how the author helps guide the reader into the poem by clarifying the usage of words, as well as helping the reader grasp the overall meaning of the poem. The majority of these poems I had never read before, and short of a challenge to read outside of my usual scope, I probably never would have read them at all. The artistry of language and poetic expression is a lost art nowadays, and I can appreciate these excerpts for the insight they provide into often the every day tasks and emotions of life.
January 17, 2024
I appreciate this book for introducing me to a few poets that I discovered I genuinely enjoy. And I was able to appreciate much of the older poetry. But I also learned that I do not enjoy the style of the Romantic poet, and did not particularly enjoy the second half of the anthology. While I understand Ryken's intent in doing so, I disagree with including poems by unbelievers in a collection intended for devotional use. I probably will not read the whole collection cover to cover again, but am glad that I finished it!
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