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The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal
The editor of the bestselling poetry anthologies How to Love the World and The Path to Kindness presents a collection of highly accessible, uplifting poetry celebrating the small wonders and peaceful moments of everyday life.
James Crews, editor of two best-selling poetry anthologies, How to Love the World and The Path to Kindness, presents an all-new collection of highly accessible poems on the theme of celebrating moments of wonder and peace in everyday life. As Crews writes in the "[A] deep love for the world is present in every one of the poems gathered in this book. Wonder calls us back to the curiosity we are each born with, and it makes us want to move closer to what sparks our attention. Wonder opens our senses and helps us stay in touch with a humbling sense of our own human smallness in the face of unexpected beauty and the delicious mysteries of life on this planet."
The anthology features a foreword by Nikita Gill and a carefully curated selection of poems from a diverse range of authors, including Native American poets Joy Harjo, Linda Hogan, Kimberly Blaeser, and Joseph Bruchac, and BIPOC writers Ross Gay, Julia Alvarez, and Toi Derricotte. Crews features new poems from popular writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Mark Nepo, Ted Kooser, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Hirshfield, and Jacqueline Suskin, along with selections from emerging poets. Readers are guided in exploring the meaning and essence of the poems through a series of reflective pauses scattered through the pages and reading group questions in the back. This anthology offers the perfect intersection for the growing number of readers interested in mindful living and bringing poetry into their everyday lives.
James Crews, editor of two best-selling poetry anthologies, How to Love the World and The Path to Kindness, presents an all-new collection of highly accessible poems on the theme of celebrating moments of wonder and peace in everyday life. As Crews writes in the "[A] deep love for the world is present in every one of the poems gathered in this book. Wonder calls us back to the curiosity we are each born with, and it makes us want to move closer to what sparks our attention. Wonder opens our senses and helps us stay in touch with a humbling sense of our own human smallness in the face of unexpected beauty and the delicious mysteries of life on this planet."
The anthology features a foreword by Nikita Gill and a carefully curated selection of poems from a diverse range of authors, including Native American poets Joy Harjo, Linda Hogan, Kimberly Blaeser, and Joseph Bruchac, and BIPOC writers Ross Gay, Julia Alvarez, and Toi Derricotte. Crews features new poems from popular writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Mark Nepo, Ted Kooser, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Hirshfield, and Jacqueline Suskin, along with selections from emerging poets. Readers are guided in exploring the meaning and essence of the poems through a series of reflective pauses scattered through the pages and reading group questions in the back. This anthology offers the perfect intersection for the growing number of readers interested in mindful living and bringing poetry into their everyday lives.
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
May 18, 2023
This is an anthology of poetry by numerous different authors from around the globe. Most focused on the beauty of existing, the natural world, and appreciation for all that is around us.
I did not dislike any of the contents, which can be an expected part of an anthology given its varied nature, but I did find beauty on every single page. None of these poems were known to me and I feel so honoured to have read from so many collated names, many of which I have jotted down to explore more from in the future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the editor, James Crews, and the publisher, Storey Publishing, for this opportunity.
I did not dislike any of the contents, which can be an expected part of an anthology given its varied nature, but I did find beauty on every single page. None of these poems were known to me and I feel so honoured to have read from so many collated names, many of which I have jotted down to explore more from in the future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the editor, James Crews, and the publisher, Storey Publishing, for this opportunity.
September 10, 2023
Nikita Gill writes in the forward of The Wonder of Small Things that “Every poem in this collection is filled with such awe and reminds us of the duty of the poet: to collect that awe and write it down.”
James Crews has collected poetry that will remind readers to wonder at this world, to be alive to it, and allow its transforming power to change us.
Each section concludes with a Reflective Pause in which Crews considers a poem’s message, followed by Invitation for Writing and Reflection with a writing prompt inspired by the poem.
Themes of the Reflective Pauses include Let Wonder Guide You, A Time for Everything, Choosing Peace, The Place of Attention, The Awe of Aliveness, Nothing for Granted, The Gift of Stillness, Winks of Calm, and Worlds of Wonder.
The poems are not only presented thematically in groups, but are so perfectly curated as to flow one to the next. The effect was to draw me into the next poem. All the poems in a section work together to produce a deeper emotional connection.
There is a wonderful mix of poets, the well-known next to the emerging. You will find Wendell Berry’s beloved The Peace of Wild Things and Jo Harjo’s Redbird Love, Jane Kenyon’s In Several Colors and Rita Dove’s Horse and Tree. I discovered many poets I was unfamiliar with and plan to read more by them.
I found myself so moved at times, I was inspired to jot down my own lines.
I loved the poems about the commonplace, like “My Mother’s Colander” by Dorianne Laux describing the many ways the old tin colander was put to use, or Penny Harter’s “Just Grapefruit,” describing the preparation of a grapefruit to eat. We are reminded to take enjoyment in every part of life.
I highlighted so many lines.
What is the way to pay tribute to glory?
The aspen knows: applaud with every breeze.
Web by Marilyn McCabe
One of my favorite poets, Joseph Fasano, is included with his haunting poem “Letter” with its ending “change me, change me change me. All I want is to be more of what I am.”
And if it’s true that we are alone,
we are alone together,
the way blades of grass
are along, but exist as a field.
from Belonging by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Today
when the bigness of sky asks whoever
is standing beneath it are you ready
the gray trees drowsing and temporarily losing
the last of their burnt sienna leaves will say yes
and you will say yes and I will say yes too.
from Poem of Thanksgiving by Nathan Spoon
I have been reading books on some very somber subjects. These poems lifted my spirits at the end of the day.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
James Crews has collected poetry that will remind readers to wonder at this world, to be alive to it, and allow its transforming power to change us.
Each section concludes with a Reflective Pause in which Crews considers a poem’s message, followed by Invitation for Writing and Reflection with a writing prompt inspired by the poem.
Themes of the Reflective Pauses include Let Wonder Guide You, A Time for Everything, Choosing Peace, The Place of Attention, The Awe of Aliveness, Nothing for Granted, The Gift of Stillness, Winks of Calm, and Worlds of Wonder.
The poems are not only presented thematically in groups, but are so perfectly curated as to flow one to the next. The effect was to draw me into the next poem. All the poems in a section work together to produce a deeper emotional connection.
There is a wonderful mix of poets, the well-known next to the emerging. You will find Wendell Berry’s beloved The Peace of Wild Things and Jo Harjo’s Redbird Love, Jane Kenyon’s In Several Colors and Rita Dove’s Horse and Tree. I discovered many poets I was unfamiliar with and plan to read more by them.
I found myself so moved at times, I was inspired to jot down my own lines.
I loved the poems about the commonplace, like “My Mother’s Colander” by Dorianne Laux describing the many ways the old tin colander was put to use, or Penny Harter’s “Just Grapefruit,” describing the preparation of a grapefruit to eat. We are reminded to take enjoyment in every part of life.
I highlighted so many lines.
What is the way to pay tribute to glory?
The aspen knows: applaud with every breeze.
Web by Marilyn McCabe
One of my favorite poets, Joseph Fasano, is included with his haunting poem “Letter” with its ending “change me, change me change me. All I want is to be more of what I am.”
And if it’s true that we are alone,
we are alone together,
the way blades of grass
are along, but exist as a field.
from Belonging by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Today
when the bigness of sky asks whoever
is standing beneath it are you ready
the gray trees drowsing and temporarily losing
the last of their burnt sienna leaves will say yes
and you will say yes and I will say yes too.
from Poem of Thanksgiving by Nathan Spoon
I have been reading books on some very somber subjects. These poems lifted my spirits at the end of the day.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
November 8, 2025
***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***
”Did you ever think you could be so lost and so found in the same visible breath?”
(Ellen Rowland, What Branches Hold)
This was such a wonderful collection of poetry! Cosy, heart-warming, and reading this in a state of bad mental health, it helped me so much. Kudos to James Crews for compiling this brilliant collection.
The themes which the poems explored were steady and powerful, reminiscent of 20th century ones. Even though many did not have a meter, the prose and lyricism was absolutely lovely. These are ones that you may read once in a while in a magazine, or a textbook even, make your moment of the day, and then vanish like a snowflake.
It was such a delight to see Rita Dove’s poem as well. Brought back memories from reading her in middle school.
My favourite ones were Can You Hear It? by Paula Gordon Lepp, Lately by Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Sorrow is Not My Name by Ross Gay, Gathering by Nina Bagley, The Broken by Alberto Rios, Letter by Joseph Fasano, and Under the Temple by Mark Nepo.
”But we are strange trees, reluctant in this forest-we oak and ash, we pine-the same the same, not different. All of us reach toward star and cloud, all of us want our share of light, just enough rainfall.”
(Michael Kleber-Diggs, The Grove)
I will definitely be getting a physical copy of this. It’s a collection that needs to be revisited, reread, recollected, again and again.
As much as I have a penchant for horror, mystery, and the dark of human psyche, I too am a sucker for nature, spirituality, and hope.
Enchanting and nostalgic.
If you want to connect with nature again, and read actually good poetry, this is just perfect <3
”A host of wild creatures live inside you and you call them stories.
A variety of beautiful birds nest inside your mind and you call them memories.”
(Nikita Gill, The Forest)
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
”Did you ever think you could be so lost and so found in the same visible breath?”
(Ellen Rowland, What Branches Hold)
This was such a wonderful collection of poetry! Cosy, heart-warming, and reading this in a state of bad mental health, it helped me so much. Kudos to James Crews for compiling this brilliant collection.
The themes which the poems explored were steady and powerful, reminiscent of 20th century ones. Even though many did not have a meter, the prose and lyricism was absolutely lovely. These are ones that you may read once in a while in a magazine, or a textbook even, make your moment of the day, and then vanish like a snowflake.
It was such a delight to see Rita Dove’s poem as well. Brought back memories from reading her in middle school.
My favourite ones were Can You Hear It? by Paula Gordon Lepp, Lately by Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Sorrow is Not My Name by Ross Gay, Gathering by Nina Bagley, The Broken by Alberto Rios, Letter by Joseph Fasano, and Under the Temple by Mark Nepo.
”But we are strange trees, reluctant in this forest-we oak and ash, we pine-the same the same, not different. All of us reach toward star and cloud, all of us want our share of light, just enough rainfall.”
(Michael Kleber-Diggs, The Grove)
I will definitely be getting a physical copy of this. It’s a collection that needs to be revisited, reread, recollected, again and again.
As much as I have a penchant for horror, mystery, and the dark of human psyche, I too am a sucker for nature, spirituality, and hope.
Enchanting and nostalgic.
If you want to connect with nature again, and read actually good poetry, this is just perfect <3
”A host of wild creatures live inside you and you call them stories.
A variety of beautiful birds nest inside your mind and you call them memories.”
(Nikita Gill, The Forest)
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
May 25, 2025
This may go down as one of my most favorite poetry books ever. Dragging myself out of *depression & PTSD required that I relearn how to find beauty. This book of poems is a reminder that beauty is found in the most unlikely and inconsequential places.
*It also required meds and therapy so I’m not suggesting this book is a cure-all.
*It also required meds and therapy so I’m not suggesting this book is a cure-all.
August 13, 2023
This is a wonderful book. It is a reminder that life is exciting. All that is needed is quietness and your attention. With these attributes you can almost hear a daisy grow. It is that simple. The poems are rich in beauty and meaning. The poems are written by different authors. There is : snow, trees, radishes, daffodils, bluebirds, etc. It is a chance to become a child again. They know how to The giggle, forget time and ask all types of questions. This book would make a beautiful gift for a child or an adult.
April 21, 2023
I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of this poetry collection. I certainly appreciate the thought provoking questions it asks after some poems and the writing prompts were also a nice surprise, The Food poems were some of my favorite. This poetry collection is certainly one I plan to own.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy.
June 9, 2024
If, like me, you’ve found yourself inexplicably drawn to reading poetry, this book is a beautiful one to add to your collection. I appreciate the curation of so many contemporary poems to help me see beauty in the what might seem to be ordinary, even mundane, moments.
April 24, 2023
An instant zap of serotonin for those of us needing a reminder about the awe-inspring things happening around us everyday.
This is an anthology poetry collection which has asked poet's to share the wonder that is all around us. While all the poem's are different in meter, rhyme and scheme they are all connected by a sense of awe. It's difficult to rate an anthology because some of the poems didn't resonate, while others made me need to close the book and think or share with friends.
I especially resonated with 'Slow Down' by Michelle Wiegers, a poem which juxtaposes the quickness with which we move through life to the value of driving in the slow lane - it's simple but so effective. I laughed out loud when I read 'Meghan Dunn's 'Ode to Butter', which highlighted the joy that can be had if we just stop and notice, "crisping and softening and browning and caramelizing everything it touches. To the sound it's waxed paper wrapper makes when a knife is sliced through at the blue line. Satisfying."
This collection feels like it's been organized into themes, but it's not explicitly divided into them. At first I wished it was, but then I was glad to be able to draw from the poems what I wanted to without being told what theme or focus I was supposed to come in with or walk away with.
Perfect for inspiring writers and poets, each section is punctuated by an invitation to Writing and Reflection. The reader is encouraged to pause their reading and consider or write around a specific theme inspired by the collection. It added a much appreciated engagement with the work that I now wish was in more collections.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for this advanced reader copy.
This book is best read with a pen and paper near by, and an extra handful of time to notice the awe-inspiring small wonders around us everyday.
This is an anthology poetry collection which has asked poet's to share the wonder that is all around us. While all the poem's are different in meter, rhyme and scheme they are all connected by a sense of awe. It's difficult to rate an anthology because some of the poems didn't resonate, while others made me need to close the book and think or share with friends.
I especially resonated with 'Slow Down' by Michelle Wiegers, a poem which juxtaposes the quickness with which we move through life to the value of driving in the slow lane - it's simple but so effective. I laughed out loud when I read 'Meghan Dunn's 'Ode to Butter', which highlighted the joy that can be had if we just stop and notice, "crisping and softening and browning and caramelizing everything it touches. To the sound it's waxed paper wrapper makes when a knife is sliced through at the blue line. Satisfying."
This collection feels like it's been organized into themes, but it's not explicitly divided into them. At first I wished it was, but then I was glad to be able to draw from the poems what I wanted to without being told what theme or focus I was supposed to come in with or walk away with.
Perfect for inspiring writers and poets, each section is punctuated by an invitation to Writing and Reflection. The reader is encouraged to pause their reading and consider or write around a specific theme inspired by the collection. It added a much appreciated engagement with the work that I now wish was in more collections.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for this advanced reader copy.
This book is best read with a pen and paper near by, and an extra handful of time to notice the awe-inspiring small wonders around us everyday.
April 27, 2023
This is a Beautiful collection of poems designed to make us pause in our hectic day-to-day lives, and look around ourselves in wonder at the world we live in and the people we are connected to. I especially love the thought-provoking journaling questions interspersed throughout, and the book discussion questions at the very end.
This will make an excellent gift for someone (or yourself) even for those professed non-poetry lovers.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This will make an excellent gift for someone (or yourself) even for those professed non-poetry lovers.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 17, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. As a teacher and writer myself, I appreciate the pauses for reflection and writing, and I liked the discussion questions included at the end. But most of all, I love how many of these poems really made me pause and reflect, or connect and feel, or just felt like a reflection of truly appreciating all the tiny moments and things in life. It was very well put together and I highly recommend it. I hope to purchase all of Crews’ collections if they’re this carefully crafted and curated.
November 24, 2024
James Crews has done it again - he has combined poems that I have loved and those that are new to me in an order that is magical. I have such deep appreciation for how each poem leads to the next, linked by an image, word, or theme… a delicate handoff between each page pleases me deeply. I will keep coming back to this collection and his others when I need a dose of beauty or hope.
November 9, 2024
such a beautiful collection. I love how poems with similar motifs are organized next to each other. I bought this after reading about the importance of wonder and awe (dacher keltner) and this whole anthology was a perfect refresh for the soul.
March 16, 2025
Each poem was a joy to read and felt like they covered a lot of ground. The reflection points were well placed and inspiring. I found myself going back to this again and again to reread moments that filled my heart. I’ve marked many pages with notes and stars to return to later. Very happy to have this on my shelf :)
April 15, 2024
lovely collection
April 22, 2024
A wide range of poems, most of them nature-related or working family relationships. Some really great metaphors and soothing verses to savor. This collection of poems I will turn to again and again.
September 3, 2024
A very cosy, laid back book. I first read it for a class, but I’ve recently re-read it and I enjoyed it a lot more. It is a very good book to read with a cup of tea and a blanket. Would recommend :)
March 8, 2025
Lovely book to pick up and read throughout a year.
June 6, 2023
What a lovely collection of joyful poems.! The variety of little things that bring folks joy is truly amazing; my favorite has to be An Ode to Butter. There is surely a poem for everyone in this collection and the reflection check points are refreshing for the reader. Thank you to Storey Publishing & Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of content.
October 14, 2023
A truly lovely collection. Meditation by Emilie Lygren was my favorite
August 23, 2025
read as the fall 2025 common reader book. really excellent collection of poems that remind the reader of the subtle, quiet little moments of joy and awe
January 21, 2024
This was a nice collection of Poems meant for poetry readers.
While I do read poetry, some of them were difficult for me to get into and understand - probably time for me to read more poetry and improve my comprehension :)
some of the poems selected were sweet. I feel that every collection of poems will have a mixed reaction as each person responds to the ideas and vision of that poem.
While I do read poetry, some of them were difficult for me to get into and understand - probably time for me to read more poetry and improve my comprehension :)
some of the poems selected were sweet. I feel that every collection of poems will have a mixed reaction as each person responds to the ideas and vision of that poem.
October 29, 2023
So, to be clear, I'm in the middle of a reading slump and thinking of quitting blogging, but I never turn down the chance to read, review, and promote any anthology by James Crews.
(And it was possibly the thing to pull me out of the slump.)
I've read and adored The Path to Kindness and How to Love the World, and The Wonder of Small Things has become my favorite of the three. This collection focusing more on poems about nature is the first collection that has forced me to read and love nature poetry; I had just assumed in the past that it wasn't for me.
All three of James Crew's anthologies contain reflection exercises, and while those are interesting, my main aim has never been those when the man puts together a phenomenal anthology. Between William Sieghart and James Crews, I never run out of poems when I need them.
Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the chance to read and review this book!
(And it was possibly the thing to pull me out of the slump.)
I've read and adored The Path to Kindness and How to Love the World, and The Wonder of Small Things has become my favorite of the three. This collection focusing more on poems about nature is the first collection that has forced me to read and love nature poetry; I had just assumed in the past that it wasn't for me.
All three of James Crew's anthologies contain reflection exercises, and while those are interesting, my main aim has never been those when the man puts together a phenomenal anthology. Between William Sieghart and James Crews, I never run out of poems when I need them.
Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the chance to read and review this book!
April 3, 2024
Firstly, as an educator, this collection has voices from all American communities. It is a mix of new voices and dear friends. Grouped by universal topics; seasons, oceans, stillness, memory, it is immensely useful. A student could simply flip through and find a poem to read, or as a teacher I could lead a discussion on a focus poem. I love love love the gentle invitations throughout that ask the reader to join the dialogue. And there are additional writing and thinking prompts at the back. I’m marking this early on the list of things I will order for my classes.
July 26, 2023
A really interesting anthology collection of poetry.
It is always hard to review poetry, as my opinion varies greatly depending on the poem.
There are inevitably some poems I enjoyed more than others and, of course, there were a few I really wasn't fond of.
However, overall, this is a really good collection focusing on the beauty of living and enjoying the world around us.
A great collection to read when you feel like you need to rest and just marvel at the world we live in.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is always hard to review poetry, as my opinion varies greatly depending on the poem.
There are inevitably some poems I enjoyed more than others and, of course, there were a few I really wasn't fond of.
However, overall, this is a really good collection focusing on the beauty of living and enjoying the world around us.
A great collection to read when you feel like you need to rest and just marvel at the world we live in.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2024
Wonderful selection of poems: I was not typically enjoying poems, but I truly savor this one as it weaves writings about mundane pleasure closest to us and draw us to think about... literally the wonder, of such small things we might have missed, daily. Enjoyable even if you think poems are too difficult for you.
December 24, 2024
i liked every poem in the book, which is usually rare with me for an anthology with different styles.
thanks netgalley for the arc.
thanks netgalley for the arc.
May 2, 2023
James Crews is my without a doubt my favourite poetry anthologist and I have him to thank for introducing me to so many of my most-loved poems through his collections 'Healing the Divide: Poems of Kindness and Connection' (2019), 'How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope' (2021) and 'The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy' (2022), the latter two published by Storey Publishing who have now produced this latest compilation, subtitled 'Poems of Peace and Renewal.'
As Nikita Gill's foreword and James Crews' own introduction outline, wonder is the theme of this collection and we are treated to over 100 poems which consider this topic from almost every possible angle, finding wonder in the natural and the man-made, in relationships and rituals, in moments and in the passage of time. A handful of the poems were already familiar to me - the collection appropriately begins with Wendell Berry's sublime 'The Peace of Wild Things' and I was delighted to see Maggie Smith's 'First Fall', Ross Gay's 'Sorrow Is Not My Name' and Ada Limón's 'Joint Custody' included. But the vast majority were new to me, and yet again I was in awe of the consistent quality of these poems. It would be easy to imagine a collection with a title like 'The Wonder of Small Things' featuring its fair share of the trite and the twee, but almost all these poems achieve profundity and yet to do with a sincerity and deceptive simplicity which will appeal to the widest possible audience.
I bookmarked so many wonderful poems as I read that I will resist the temptation to quote from them all, but I do want to mention a few highlights to showcase the range and beauty of this selection. In James Crews' own poem 'Awe', he reflects that 'wonder and awe / are decisions we make daily, hourly, / minute by minute in the tiny offices / of the heart'. Reflecting on seeds in 'Essence', Kai Coggin asks 'did you know these tiny sprouts / these little leaves and baby greens / already hold the heavy flavours of their final selves?' I adored Alison Luterman's love poem 'Heavenly Bodies' in which she describes her and her partner's hands as 'two mis-/ matched puzzle pieces, / sanded down to fit.' In another love poem of sorts, 'Sunrise Sonnet for my Son', Joanne Durham celebrates the shared ritual of unloading the dishwasher each morning which unites them across four hundred miles, 'this man I raised, who hums as he sorts / the silverware, noticing how each spoon shines.' And Dorianne Laux's ode to 'My Mother's Colander' celebrates how such an ordinary item can become 'the baby's / helmet during the cold war, / a sinking ship in the bathtub, / little boat of holes.'
There are so many gems I could mention, but this gives a flavour of many sources of wonder articulated within this volume. It is also an exquisitely arranged collection with poems juxtaposed for effect. There are enjoyable sequences of poems on topics as diverse as trees, swimming, grandparents, cancer and tomatoes, all of which become mutually enriching when read side by side. As with Crews' last two collections, the poems are also interspersed with occasion 'Reflective Pauses' offering meditations on certain poems and writing prompts. At the end of the volume, reading group discussion questions are included about other poems, as well as biographies of all the poets featured. I read this anthology in electronic form but I am assuming that it will also be a physically beautiful book to possess like its two predecessors.
This is a stunning anthology full of such riches, guaranteed to introduce all readers to many wonderful new poems. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.
As Nikita Gill's foreword and James Crews' own introduction outline, wonder is the theme of this collection and we are treated to over 100 poems which consider this topic from almost every possible angle, finding wonder in the natural and the man-made, in relationships and rituals, in moments and in the passage of time. A handful of the poems were already familiar to me - the collection appropriately begins with Wendell Berry's sublime 'The Peace of Wild Things' and I was delighted to see Maggie Smith's 'First Fall', Ross Gay's 'Sorrow Is Not My Name' and Ada Limón's 'Joint Custody' included. But the vast majority were new to me, and yet again I was in awe of the consistent quality of these poems. It would be easy to imagine a collection with a title like 'The Wonder of Small Things' featuring its fair share of the trite and the twee, but almost all these poems achieve profundity and yet to do with a sincerity and deceptive simplicity which will appeal to the widest possible audience.
I bookmarked so many wonderful poems as I read that I will resist the temptation to quote from them all, but I do want to mention a few highlights to showcase the range and beauty of this selection. In James Crews' own poem 'Awe', he reflects that 'wonder and awe / are decisions we make daily, hourly, / minute by minute in the tiny offices / of the heart'. Reflecting on seeds in 'Essence', Kai Coggin asks 'did you know these tiny sprouts / these little leaves and baby greens / already hold the heavy flavours of their final selves?' I adored Alison Luterman's love poem 'Heavenly Bodies' in which she describes her and her partner's hands as 'two mis-/ matched puzzle pieces, / sanded down to fit.' In another love poem of sorts, 'Sunrise Sonnet for my Son', Joanne Durham celebrates the shared ritual of unloading the dishwasher each morning which unites them across four hundred miles, 'this man I raised, who hums as he sorts / the silverware, noticing how each spoon shines.' And Dorianne Laux's ode to 'My Mother's Colander' celebrates how such an ordinary item can become 'the baby's / helmet during the cold war, / a sinking ship in the bathtub, / little boat of holes.'
There are so many gems I could mention, but this gives a flavour of many sources of wonder articulated within this volume. It is also an exquisitely arranged collection with poems juxtaposed for effect. There are enjoyable sequences of poems on topics as diverse as trees, swimming, grandparents, cancer and tomatoes, all of which become mutually enriching when read side by side. As with Crews' last two collections, the poems are also interspersed with occasion 'Reflective Pauses' offering meditations on certain poems and writing prompts. At the end of the volume, reading group discussion questions are included about other poems, as well as biographies of all the poets featured. I read this anthology in electronic form but I am assuming that it will also be a physically beautiful book to possess like its two predecessors.
This is a stunning anthology full of such riches, guaranteed to introduce all readers to many wonderful new poems. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.
September 9, 2023
Book Review: The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal by James Crews
The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal, edited by James Crews, is a delightful anthology that invites readers to explore moments of wonder and peace in everyday life. With a deep love for the world permeating each poem, this collection sparks curiosity and encourages readers to embrace the beauty and mysteries of existence.
Crews has curated a diverse selection of poems from renowned authors, including Native American poets Joy Harjo, Linda Hogan, Kimberly Blaeser, and Joseph Bruchac, as well as BIPOC writers Ross Gay, Julia Alvarez, and Toi Derricotte. Additionally, the anthology features new works from popular writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Mark Nepo, Ted Kooser, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Hirshfield, and Jacqueline Suskin.
The book opens with a foreword by Nikita Gill, setting the tone for what lies ahead. As readers delve into the collection, they are guided through moments of reflection with pauses interspersed throughout the pages. These reflective pauses allow readers to fully immerse themselves in the meaning and essence of each poem. Furthermore, the inclusion of reading group questions at the end of the book enhances the reading experience, making it suitable for both individual contemplation and group discussion.
One of the standout features of The Wonder of Small Things is its accessibility. The poems are highly approachable, making them perfect for both seasoned poetry enthusiasts and those new to the genre. Crews has successfully compiled a collection that engages readers with its beauty and meaning, drawing them in regardless of their prior familiarity with poetry.
As a reader who had not delved deeply into poetry before, I found this anthology to be an excellent starting point. The carefully selected poems in The Wonder of Small Things touched me with their elegance and depth. Each piece captured the essence of life, nature, and appreciation, offering moments of solace and inspiration.
I particularly enjoyed the thought-provoking questions that followed each poem. These prompts encouraged me to pause and reflect on the themes presented, deepening my understanding and connection to the words on the page. Additionally, the writing prompts provided were an unexpected bonus, igniting my own creativity and allowing me to engage more deeply with the poetic form.
Furthermore, I must highlight the charming cover of this book, which immediately caught my attention. Its visual appeal perfectly complements the content within, creating an aesthetically pleasing reading experience.
In conclusion, The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal is a gem of an anthology that invites readers on a journey of wonder and contemplation. With its accessible poems and thoughtful prompts for reflection, this book is suitable for both poetry aficionados and those new to the genre. James Crews has curated a collection that celebrates the beauty of life and nature while reminding us of the importance of appreciating the small things. For these reasons and more, I give The Wonder of Small Things a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal, edited by James Crews, is a delightful anthology that invites readers to explore moments of wonder and peace in everyday life. With a deep love for the world permeating each poem, this collection sparks curiosity and encourages readers to embrace the beauty and mysteries of existence.
Crews has curated a diverse selection of poems from renowned authors, including Native American poets Joy Harjo, Linda Hogan, Kimberly Blaeser, and Joseph Bruchac, as well as BIPOC writers Ross Gay, Julia Alvarez, and Toi Derricotte. Additionally, the anthology features new works from popular writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Mark Nepo, Ted Kooser, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Hirshfield, and Jacqueline Suskin.
The book opens with a foreword by Nikita Gill, setting the tone for what lies ahead. As readers delve into the collection, they are guided through moments of reflection with pauses interspersed throughout the pages. These reflective pauses allow readers to fully immerse themselves in the meaning and essence of each poem. Furthermore, the inclusion of reading group questions at the end of the book enhances the reading experience, making it suitable for both individual contemplation and group discussion.
One of the standout features of The Wonder of Small Things is its accessibility. The poems are highly approachable, making them perfect for both seasoned poetry enthusiasts and those new to the genre. Crews has successfully compiled a collection that engages readers with its beauty and meaning, drawing them in regardless of their prior familiarity with poetry.
As a reader who had not delved deeply into poetry before, I found this anthology to be an excellent starting point. The carefully selected poems in The Wonder of Small Things touched me with their elegance and depth. Each piece captured the essence of life, nature, and appreciation, offering moments of solace and inspiration.
I particularly enjoyed the thought-provoking questions that followed each poem. These prompts encouraged me to pause and reflect on the themes presented, deepening my understanding and connection to the words on the page. Additionally, the writing prompts provided were an unexpected bonus, igniting my own creativity and allowing me to engage more deeply with the poetic form.
Furthermore, I must highlight the charming cover of this book, which immediately caught my attention. Its visual appeal perfectly complements the content within, creating an aesthetically pleasing reading experience.
In conclusion, The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal is a gem of an anthology that invites readers on a journey of wonder and contemplation. With its accessible poems and thoughtful prompts for reflection, this book is suitable for both poetry aficionados and those new to the genre. James Crews has curated a collection that celebrates the beauty of life and nature while reminding us of the importance of appreciating the small things. For these reasons and more, I give The Wonder of Small Things a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
April 19, 2023
"If peace was something we could taste,
it would be figs drizzled with honey."
- Breathing Peace, Cristina M. R. Norcross
The Wonder of Small Things is an anthology of poems about cultivating wonder and seizing every opportunity to experience awe. The works selected revolve around love, nature, and appreciating small moments.
Every fifteen pages or so, readers can find an Invitation to Writing and Reflection to further explore the themes and ideas presented in one of the poems. The book ends with Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussions based on specific poems. These Reflective Pauses and prompts ask us to be an active witness to our environment and take some time to write in response.
I loved this book. It is always difficult to judge a whole collection, especially with so many different authors and different styles, but the poems are organized following a common thread through different aspects of nature (trees and light and birds and food) that makes it all feel like one big ensemble work.
The collection is full of beauty and hope, and feels like sitting out in the sun on a warm sunny day.
I think this book, being over 200 pages, would have benefitted from being separated into sections to make it easier to find specific themes.
Added notes
My favourite poems :
AWE, James Crews
THE GROVE, Michael Kleber-Diggs
UNDER THE TEMPLE, Mark Nepo
HEAVENLY BODIES, Alison Luterman
SWIM LESSONS, George Bilgere
BELONGING, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
PRIMITIVE OBJECTS, Holly Wren Spaulding
LISTEN BACK, Brooke McNamara
ODE TO BUTTER, Meghan Dunn
ASK ME, Sue Ann Gleason
CHICKADEE, Meghan Sterling
ARCHILOCHUS COLUBRIS, José A. Alcántara
"Do you believe at times that a moment
chooses you to remember it & tell about it-
so that it may live again?"
- Lately, Laure-Anne Bosselaar
"The ocean's briny smell
fills my lungs with longing
for a simpler life."
- Ocean Love, Carolyn Chilton Casas
"And if it's true we are alone,
we are alone together,
the way blades of grass
are alone, but exist as a field."
- Belonging, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
it would be figs drizzled with honey."
- Breathing Peace, Cristina M. R. Norcross
The Wonder of Small Things is an anthology of poems about cultivating wonder and seizing every opportunity to experience awe. The works selected revolve around love, nature, and appreciating small moments.
Every fifteen pages or so, readers can find an Invitation to Writing and Reflection to further explore the themes and ideas presented in one of the poems. The book ends with Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussions based on specific poems. These Reflective Pauses and prompts ask us to be an active witness to our environment and take some time to write in response.
I loved this book. It is always difficult to judge a whole collection, especially with so many different authors and different styles, but the poems are organized following a common thread through different aspects of nature (trees and light and birds and food) that makes it all feel like one big ensemble work.
The collection is full of beauty and hope, and feels like sitting out in the sun on a warm sunny day.
I think this book, being over 200 pages, would have benefitted from being separated into sections to make it easier to find specific themes.
Added notes
My favourite poems :
AWE, James Crews
THE GROVE, Michael Kleber-Diggs
UNDER THE TEMPLE, Mark Nepo
HEAVENLY BODIES, Alison Luterman
SWIM LESSONS, George Bilgere
BELONGING, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
PRIMITIVE OBJECTS, Holly Wren Spaulding
LISTEN BACK, Brooke McNamara
ODE TO BUTTER, Meghan Dunn
ASK ME, Sue Ann Gleason
CHICKADEE, Meghan Sterling
ARCHILOCHUS COLUBRIS, José A. Alcántara
"Do you believe at times that a moment
chooses you to remember it & tell about it-
so that it may live again?"
- Lately, Laure-Anne Bosselaar
"The ocean's briny smell
fills my lungs with longing
for a simpler life."
- Ocean Love, Carolyn Chilton Casas
"And if it's true we are alone,
we are alone together,
the way blades of grass
are alone, but exist as a field."
- Belonging, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
May 9, 2024
Though I didn’t connect with every poem, this was a wonderful collection to read through a bit each day.
“I come the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief.”
from The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
“Happiness surprised me in middle age:
just in the nick of forty I found love,
a steady job, a publisher, a home,
ten acres and a sky-reflecting pond—
a better ending than I’d expected.
….
We have to live our natures out, the seed
we call our soul unfolds over the course
of a lifetime and there’s no going back
on who we are..”
excerpts from Locust by Julia Alvarez
“Do you believe at times that a moment
chooses you to remember it & tell about it—
so that it may live again?”
from Lately, by Laure-Anne Bosselaar
“tone color of your voice
that has said my name more than any other
ragged with grief, hoarse with desire
warm tenor of dailiness”
from Long Love by Alison Prine
“So we’re dust. In the meantime, my wife and I
make the bed. Holding opposite edges of the sheet,
we raise it, billowing, then pull it tight,
measuring by eye as it falls into alignment
between us. We tug, fold, tuck. And if I’m lucky,
she’ll remember a recent dream and tell me.
One day we’ll lie down and not get up.
One day, all guard will be surrendered.
Until then, we’ll go on learning to recognize
what we love, and what it takes
to tend what isn’t for our having.
So often, fear has led me
to abandon what I know I must relinquish
in time. But for the moment,
I’ll listen to her dream,
and she to mine, our mutual hearing calling
more and more detail into the light
of a joint and fragile keeping.”
To Hold by Li-Young Lee
“I come the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief.”
from The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
“Happiness surprised me in middle age:
just in the nick of forty I found love,
a steady job, a publisher, a home,
ten acres and a sky-reflecting pond—
a better ending than I’d expected.
….
We have to live our natures out, the seed
we call our soul unfolds over the course
of a lifetime and there’s no going back
on who we are..”
excerpts from Locust by Julia Alvarez
“Do you believe at times that a moment
chooses you to remember it & tell about it—
so that it may live again?”
from Lately, by Laure-Anne Bosselaar
“tone color of your voice
that has said my name more than any other
ragged with grief, hoarse with desire
warm tenor of dailiness”
from Long Love by Alison Prine
“So we’re dust. In the meantime, my wife and I
make the bed. Holding opposite edges of the sheet,
we raise it, billowing, then pull it tight,
measuring by eye as it falls into alignment
between us. We tug, fold, tuck. And if I’m lucky,
she’ll remember a recent dream and tell me.
One day we’ll lie down and not get up.
One day, all guard will be surrendered.
Until then, we’ll go on learning to recognize
what we love, and what it takes
to tend what isn’t for our having.
So often, fear has led me
to abandon what I know I must relinquish
in time. But for the moment,
I’ll listen to her dream,
and she to mine, our mutual hearing calling
more and more detail into the light
of a joint and fragile keeping.”
To Hold by Li-Young Lee
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