Every Day Is a Poem: Find Clarity, Feel Relief, and See Beauty in Every Moment

by Jacqueline Suskin

“This is a practical guide for everyone to learn the requisite art of slowing down, becoming more curious in order to ‘nurture transformation and love limitlessly.’”
―Derrick C. Brown, author of Hello. It Doesn’t Matter. , UH-OH , and How the Body Works the Dark


How do we deal with the heaviness of everyday living? When we are surrounded by uncertainty, distrust, and destruction, how do we sift through the chaos and enjoy being alive?

In Every Day Is a Poem , Jacqueline Suskin aims to answer these questions by using poetry as a tool for finding clarity and feeling relief. With provocative questions, writing practices, and mindset exercises, this celebrated poet shows you how to focus your senses, cultivate curiosity, and create your own document of the world’s beauty. Emphasizing that the personal is inextricable from the creative, Suskin offers specific instructions on how make a map of your past and engage with your pain to write a healing poem.

Poetry isn’t a magic cure-all that makes adversity vanish, but it does summon the wondrous and sublime out of the shadows. Suskin seeks to remind you how incredible it is to be alive at all, even when it hurts. Most importantly, Every Day Is a Poem reveals that we all have the ability to weave beauty and meaning out of otherwise difficult and overwhelming times.

Genres: Poetry, Writing, Nonfiction, Art, Self Help

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2020

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful guide to writing poetry, improving poetry, or just seeing the poetry in life. The author once made a living writing poems for others, sometimes on the street, and is also a published poet and instructor. She fills the book with ideas about using your senses, mourning people you lost, editing your poetry, etc. and illustrates it with many of her own poems. There is space for you to write your own poems and thoughts. This is a fun book for anyone who loves writing poetry or wants to learn how to.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[kutingtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this one relaxing weekday afternoon and learned how to appreciate life more and practical mindsets to express myself through poetry or see the world through it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been long waiting for this book. I admire Jacqueline's poetry. Her words are kind and encouraging and aimed for each to find themselves in their own writing. It really was inspiring. I keep this book near and go to it for inspiration.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacqueline Suskin has interspersed her own poetry amidst encouragement, tips, and writing practices to help you “use words to explore the wonder of being alive.” I appreciated her positivity and found her approach fun and inspiring.

While this doesn’t teach the mechanics of writing poetry, it is wonderful for cultivating a poetic mindset. Some of the chapter topics include being in awe of everything, making meaning, exploring your purpose, using your senses, using your pain, using your memories, and using your joy. The book concludes with a recommended reading list.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys contemplation, seeks spiritual growth, and desires inspiration for writing poetry (or any other creative endeavor).

Thanks to the publisher, Sounds True, for providing me with an unproofed ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.

[Alyanna Oquendo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all that I have learned from this book, the most important was the second to last chapter: Permission to be a Poet. As someone who struggles with perfectionism, this chapter helped me be gentler with myself and my writing. I'm still a poet, even if I don't write everyday or don't edit my poems or keep them hidden in the shadow of my desk. My poems are simply outlet and they needn't be anything more.

All in all, this book helped me explore what I wanted out of poetry and how best to put that to paper which I'm grateful for. I recommend this book to those wishing to work on their poetry in relation to their mindset. Know that this book has a strong basis in spirituality which was still informative for someone like myself who isn't very spiritual but it could be a turn-off for others.

[Vanessa Ya Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last week, my mom gave me an article from “spirituality & health” about Jacqueline Suskin. It was a breath of fresh air. Upon finishing the article, I followed Jacqueline on Instagram and then ordered this book from Amazon Prime.

I read the book in 2 days, trying my best to savor it. I find Jacqueline’s words beautiful and inspiring.

I’ve always loved writing poetry since I was young and recently I have been finding so many new female poets & I feel so revived!

I especially appreciate her love for finding awe in the ordinary, as this is a practice I engage in daily, and it really helps me feel centered and feel constant gratitude for our world.

Can’t wait to read more of your work!!

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’ll notice it took me forever to read this book - not because it was difficult to read; quite the opposite, Suskin’s prose and poetry invite lingering, savoring, reflecting. Each chapter is a treat and stands alone. I was not moved to write poetry again, which says more about me than about the book. But I was moved by everyday encounters, like the poetry of leaves blowing in the wind.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not in general a poetry lover, yet I do enjoy a poem that speaks to me - that makes me laugh, that makes me pause, that makes me reflect and yes, that even brings moisture to my eyes. Even though I haven't done anything with this book but read the poems, I wanted to record this title for my next go-around!

[Beth Toner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book on the creative process, with some helpful writing prompts. She lost me a little with the tarot card stuff—but I tried to take it in the spirit in which I think it was intended: being open to possibilities.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, positive guide to improving your writing and the quality of your life with poetry.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve already recommended this book to three people! It reads like a light read, but can take one deep into life, the psyche and everything. It’s a book I will go back to again and again and I plan to read more by this author. As an added bonus for me, I have found myself writing more poetry.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Day is a Poem is an interesting book that offers tips and lessons on sitting down to write poetry while sharing ideas and stories from the author's life.

[Angie Taggart · Rating 2 out of 5]

The exercises were good for beginning writers and noticers. The poems weren’t the best, but I appreciate the sentiment. Will probably use some of the exercises in my English classroom.