AUTHOR/EDITOR: Christian Wiman
PUBLISHER: New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2017, (232 pages).
So far reaching is the element of joy that there are instances which, surprisingly, involves joy. Things like pain may seem strange to be included in this anthology of poems about joy. It speaks of the reality of life, that amid the struggle of pain and brokenness, there is hope that keeps us alive and kicking. That is irony that keeps us grounded, lest we start manufacturing artificial future that would diminish true joy. With irony comes contrast where we see joy more clearly when we are able to contrast with what it is not. I like what Jurgen Moltmann wrote:
"We don't accuse God because there is suffering in the world. Rather, we protest in the name of God against suffering and those who cause it."
Brutality, wars, conflicts, and dissent are prevalent in many societies. Acknowledging their existence makes us authentic. Recognizing that they are not an end it themselves make us hopeful.
There is also the poet factor, where joy is carefully connected with a person. An interesting thought is about how joy is achieved when we "lose ourselves," such as the joy of a grandparent seeing the birth of a grandchild; or some religious moments of bliss in prayer or worship. Children have that natural propensity to be happy about little things. Like bees that fly gleefully to a pretty flower pregnant with nectar, kids see life with candy shop lens. Perhaps that is something about being little children that Jesus was talking about in the gospels. In the poems, readers will learn about seeing joy as meaning, when people understand a certain answer to a puzzle, or a moment of delight that comes when things finally fall in place. Joy is also not something that is the goal of life. It lurks in many places just like WiFi signals that pop up at every corner of the city sidewalks. It helps us be bold about journeying to places we have never gone before; adventures that would never happen if we do not step out of our comfort zones. It is food for the soul and fuel for life. In a book that seeks less arguments and more experience, Wiman invites many different contributors to illuminate the many hidden places where joy happens.
Whether one is walking along the canal; celebrating a special holiday; reflecting on a poem; looking at birds or smelling the flowers; even observing the crowds of people gathered at various places; there is something for everyone, if we do not stop looking. This skill or discernment as some may prefer, can only be gradually picked up. The hurried reader who skims this book will be disappointed. The scholar who seeks to mine this book of gems may find a few precious thoughts. However, it is the patient and reflective reader, who would be blessed with a mentality of "less is more," allowing any one poem to speak truth about life and the clues that lead to moments of joy.
Three Thoughts
First, this book is not a self-help manual to help us be joyful people by giving us five, six, or seven habits to happiness. If readers were to look for answers to their own search for joy, they would be found wanting and disappointed because this book is not about fulfilling our personal needs for happiness. Other books may present some self-help guidance, but not this book. For this book is for the patient reader who simply wants to enjoy the works of others, without prejudgment, without condescension, but pure acceptance. I find myself initially looking for some kind of framework to classify each poem. That was not to be found, which is exactly what life is about. There is no way we could design our own lives to feel a spectrum of emotions like a well-crafted story. Emotions by themselves are not caged by human frameworks. More often than not, it is the other way round. Emotions determine the reactions to our individual contexts.
Second, the way to read this book is to come alongside the writers and to swim the thoughts of each contributor. With imagination and openness, we allow ourselves to enter the story through the words. We pause when necessary. We may skim at times, or even stop reading altogether. Stay with the poem and allow the poem to stay with us. Perhaps, readers can also think of the poems like lyrics to a song. They may not understand the actual picture until they sing it over and over again. Like stanzas leading up to the chorus, the poems do challenge us to be led to our individual choruses of delight. This calls for humility.
Finally, do not be discouraged about words or phrases we don't understand. Appreciate those verses that do ring something in our heads or hearts. As we join the dots, we might felt led toward places we have never thought about before. Life is about simple things and this book demonstrates this clearly through many everyday examples. Along the way, there is a good chance that readers themselves would be quietly equipped to do the same, and perhaps expand this book beyond its 320 pages with our individual stories of search for joy and healing, as we traverse this world. Powerful book!
Christian Wiman is an American poet who served as editor or "Poetry" magazine for 10 years. He explores life and spirituality through poems. He has taught at Stanford University, Northwestern University, Lynchburg College, and Yale Divinity School.
Rating: 5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Yale University Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
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