A Happy Poem to End Every Day

by Jane McMorland Hunter (Editor)

These days we're all in need of a little nugget of happiness to help soothe our weary souls at the end of the day. A Happy Poem to End Every Day provides just one sublimely happy poem for every day of the year, from cosy fireside idylls in winter to outdoor adventures in summer, encounters with the beauty of nature in spring and moments of quiet reflection in autumn. It features some of the greatest poets ever to put pen to paper, from William Wordsworth on the joy of skating and Emily Brontë enjoying life on the moors to Simon Armitage catching a cricket ball and Wendy Cope sharing an orange, with a good smattering of classic jolly verse such as Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat.

Beautifully illustrated with contemplative scenes of pure happiness, this wonderful book is the perfect way to give yourself a little lift every evening. Keep it by your bedside and it's sure to bring restful sleep and sweet dreams.

Genres: Poetry

480 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2022

Reviews

[emma]

new year's resolution: work on my attitude

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Happy Poem to End Every Day by Jane McMorland Hunter

A Happy Poem to End Every Day is a beautifully curated poetry anthology designed to bring a moment of joy or calm at the end of each day with one uplifting poem for every day of the year, selected and arranged by editor Jane McMorland Hunter. The collection spans seasons and moods, offering cosy fireside verses for winter, nature‑bright poems for summer, gentle reflections for autumn, and fresh‑air awakenings in spring. It includes work by celebrated authors like William Wordsworth, Emily Brontë, Simon Armitage, Wendy Cope and even classic favourites such as Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat, all chosen for their capacity to leave the reader feeling light, cheerful, or contemplative before sleep. Illustrated with calm, evocative images, it makes a lovely bedside companion for quiet nights.

What I found especially comforting was the anthology’s rhythm: dipping into a new poem each evening felt like a gentle ritual, a spell of peace after a busy day, where joy often came not with grand revelation but in a simple glance at light on leaves or laughter caught in verse. The diversity of poets and styles made every selection a small surprise, and many left me smiling quietly before sleep.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Because it offers daily warmth and serenity through carefully chosen verse.

[Eleanor]

No rating as it is a collection of different poems where I preferred some to others

[Diane Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems does exactly what it says on the cover - helps you end the day with a happy thought. The poems are not long and cover a range of topics, but each one sees pleasure or beauty in something. I liked the fact that there was a mix of works from different centuries and I really enjoyed the medieval poetry to transport me to another place before I fell asleep. I found myself looking up some poets I was not familiar with and reflecting on how the structure and form enhanced the telling of the tale. It is a book to read over and over or pick up at random with a welcoming bright cover that delivers what it promises. If you're not sure what to buy a friend as a gift, then this might just be the answer!

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

IDK, the book itself was beautiful but the collection seemed rather uninspired and sometimes lazy. A handful of poems I enjoyed but some poets felt over represented, the Chesterton part felt lazy, the Declaration of Independence part felt corny, and there were just too many boring rhyming poems to satisfy me.