Ten Poems for Difficult Times

by Roger Housden (Contributor)

In his bestselling Ten Poems series, Roger Housden has shown an uncanny ability to choose and discuss poems that strike at the core of readers’ concerns and needs. In this new volume, ten extraordinary poems, along with Housden’s incisive essays, bring heartfelt insight and broad perspective both to our personal challenges and to our cultural and collective malaise. Ten Poems for Difficult Times is the perfect gift for oneself or for anyone in need of solace and inspiration. Ten Poems for Difficult Times “Good Bones” by Maggie Smith “The Thing Is” by Ellen Bass “The Quarrel” by Conrad Aiken “Cutting Loose” by William Stafford “Rain Light” by W. S. Merwin “How the Light Comes” by Jan Richardson “Now You Know the Worst” by Wendell Berry “A Brief for the Defense” by Jack Gilbert “It’s This Way” by Nazim Hikmet “Annunciation” by Marie Howe

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2018

About the author

Roger Housden is the author of some twenty books of non fiction, including the best selling Ten Poems series. His new book, SAVED BY BEAUTY: ADVENTURES OF AN AMERICAN ROMANTIC IN IRAN, comes out on May 17 2011 with Broadway Books.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten carefully selected poems with short essays of appreciation and insight. I met some new poems that are now touchstones including "Good Bones" by Maggie Smith and "Now You Know the Worst" by Wendell Berry. I am especially grateful to be introduced to "How the Light Comes" by Jan Richardson:
"I cannot tell you
how the light comes,
but that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way
into the deepest dark
that enfolds you,
though it may seem
long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape
you did not foresee."

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reading for these weeks of shelter and the world on fire. Will keep it handy!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The selected poems and the short essays that accompany them are all wonderful.

[Anne Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book so much right now. It came along at just the moment when my soul could only be reached through poetry -- and Voila! -- another ten poems volume dropped into my lap. I don't know how I missed it since I am such a huge fan of this series, and of Roger Housden. I obviously needed this book during the awful Trump years, but didn't know to look for it. Now, after the death of a dear, dear man, I needed it more. I'm crying right now for the sweet scent that these poems have released into the room. I'm like Nazim thinking "carnations must be blooming nearby."

I know I will reread this volume often and will add it to my other books in the series which hold a special spot on my bookshelf.

My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/...

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great poems, but everything else was some of the most banal writing about poetry I’ve ever read.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several others in this series and own two of them. They're small, short books, and the value, for me, is discovering poets I might not have otherwise. I recommend them for that. All 10 poems are by different poets, each carefully chosen for the theme and to be representative of that poet's work.

However, after reading all of the first two books I read in this series, I now skip most of the author's lengthy interpretation and deconstruction of each poem. Some offer insights or ways of reading a poem that are worth becoming aware of, but that preaching-teaching part mostly ruins the poems for me.

I was once an English major and regret not sticking with that rather than switching to psych. But I couldn't go along when the instructor insisted I adhere to his interpretation of Hemingway's short story, "A Clean Well-Lighted Place," which we perceived quite differently. As with poems: I want to think about the meaning and what else they bring up in me on my own. That's part of the purpose of poetry and other literature, not to pass an exam about how much aligned your response is to the instructor's.

[Petal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of ten poems collated by Roger Housden to help us through difficult times by providing us with pieces that help us connect with our emotions, and gives a face to our collective struggles.

This was a very enjoyable read that I savoured over the last week, reading a piece every other night, and taking my time with the dialogue that followed. The introduction and his writings that follows each poem is easy to follow and a delight to read and at more than one point I felt that his words really hit just the right spot. It provides even those who are relative novices to poetry with information and insight about the piece, and how it resonates and fits within our world.

"But poetry reaches with its sounds and rhythms down below the realm of the conscious mind to awaken and nourish the imagination."

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume in Roger Housden's "Ten Poems" series focuses on hard times, both personally and in the world. Each of his carefully chosen selections, including Wendell Berry's "Now You Know the Worst", Jack Gilbert's "A Brief for the Defense", and Jan Richardson's "How the Light Comes", is followed by a few pages of commentary that further illuminate its message. This volume is especially valuable thanks to its insightful opening essay including these words: "Poetry uniquely combines imaginative power and conscious intelligence, inspiration and hard work, and its effect is to illuminate our lives and breathe new life, new seeing, new tasting into the world we thought we knew." Actual rating: 4.5

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

5 stars for the poetry choices, 1 star for the commentary.

It's very dated, set in that turbulent post election era in which half the US was sure the end of democracy was near. Less than a decade after the fact, it feels melodramatic. The editor/ essay author also includes an awful lot of depressing things about his own personal life, which, considering I selected this to read when I was feeling down, didn't help cheer me any. Reading sad poetry is sort of like listening to sad music when you're depressed-- you can wallow in artistic comfort. Reading sad essays about sad things happening in other people's lives is akin to watching the national news and expecting an endorphin boost.

I loved nearly all the poetry choices, though. 🤷‍♀️

[Richard Subber · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is treasure in this little volume.

Try Maggie Smith’s “Good Bones,” here’s an excerpt:

“Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
…I am trying
to sell them the world…
…This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.”

…or try Wendell Berry’s “Now You Know The Worst,” here’s an excerpt:

“Now you know the worst
we humans have to know
about ourselves, and I am sorry.
…If you will have the courage for love,
you may walk in light. It will be
the light of those who have suffered
for peace…”

Read more of my book reviews and poems here:
www.richardsubber.com

[Mina ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before you choose this book to read, be aware that it was not written by Roger Housden or at least THE POEMS weren't written by him.

He picks some poems from others authors and use it in here (with the credits of course) plus his interpretation of them.

Even though I don't like to have someone telling me his/her interpretation of a poetry, I like to interprate in my way, it was still good.

--- The Best Poems from this Book ---

• Good Bones (Maggie Smith)
• How the Light Comes (Jan Richardson)

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, this collection was so lovely. I'm already planning to go through it again.

Highly, highly recommended for anyone wanting to get into poetry, but feeling like they don't "get it". Roger Housden breaks down the poems, picking up on things you might have missed (I definitely missed!). And his oohing and aahing over the poems is just so fun to vicariously participate in! I'm looking forward to diving into more of his collections.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably a 3.25 stars for me… but it introduced me to two other poets that I really want to read, so I’m really rounding up.
The book is literally 10 poems, and then the editor has an essay after each. His essays are maybe 25% good and useful, and 75% TMI and kind of eye-roll stuff. But as mentioned, it introduced me to two poets that I want to read more from (Nazim Hikmet and Jack Gilbert).

[Paige Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to give to a friend who has had a lot of tough breaks all at once - divorce, health issues, financial / career concerns, being a care-taker for elderly relatives... endless frustrations.... Anyway - I decided to pick up an extra one and read it myself. So glad I did. A beautiful reminder that this human world is indeed 'broken, but also beautiful.'

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of Housden's antholigies I read and I now own them all. His poem selections span styles, generations and popularity. The short essays he offers for each provide understandable context so even less avid poetry readers can wrap their minds around the meaning. This particular volume is my personal favorite but they are all wonderful.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. Several of the poems did resonate with me, and I will hang onto them and return to them in the future. Good Bones is one example. But some I just didn’t get, even after reading the author’s commentary. Maybe some poems just didn’t strike me in the right mood or at the right time in life? I’m intrigued enough by the Ten Poems series to give it another try.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just surprisingly wonderful.

[Lindsay Bragg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to read more poetry and this is a great way to do it. It's very digestible poetry. Small bits of poetry with prose and commentary to help make sense of it and learn to appreciate it.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not my favorite collection of poetry. The essays were not as interesting, either. Maybe I’ll go back and read the earlier collections in this Ten Poems series.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read poetry. This was a welcome change of pace. Thanks.

[Anna Norvele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't bad. There are some new poets in my tbr list.

[Catarina Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Poetry begins in delight and ends in wisdom."

[Geri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. I meet with two friends most Monday mornings to read and discuss poetry. We have used Housden's ten poem series for a couple of years. We have beautiful conversations based on his selections and insightful commentary.

[Sulema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poems by different authors, followed by essays from this author taking a closer look at the meaning of the poem and making connections with himself