Review by Santoshan aka Stephen Wollaston.
www.greenspirit.org.uk/books-greenspirit-book-series/#poetryanthology
The Anthology of Poems for GreenSpirits is the eleventh title in the low-cost GreenSpirit Book Series, compiled by GreenSpirit’s very own Joan Angus, which comes across as a 188-page labour of love, consisting of nine essential sections covering topics such as Seasons, Lifestyles, Relationships, Meeting Nature’s Communities, and Healing.
Joan, who writes poetry herself and is one of the contributors, has been the principal poetry editor of GreenSpirit Magazine for several years, has made it her mission to gather various poems – for both the magazine and this anthology – that resonated with her own Nature-centred outlook.
In all, there are 30 different poets that make-up the content of the anthology, a few of whom are widely-known such as George Eliot and DH Lawrence, while others are perhaps known more within smaller green circles and amongst GreenSpirit’s members. Nonetheless, it is this which I like about Joan’s collection and feel it is its strength, as she hasn’t simply relied on name, fame or reputation but on a rich mix of poets and different styles – light-hearted, serious, long, short and pithy. It would have been easy to be lazy and simply Google and gather a more obvious collection!
I feel sure every reader will find their own personal favourites in this book. There will of course be passages that resonate with readers for different reasons. I particularly like the way that the affirmative prayer-like opening poem “Ode to Creation Spirituality” by Margie Schneider sets the anthology off on good footing for what follows:
“The Earth is our Mother
We are her kin
Our Father who loves us
Dwells there within
Thru Creation and Science they say we are one
with the trees, the stars and even the sun
They say life’s a blessing
not about sin
That the child inside us
needs to come out and win
If we take heed of their wisdom
we’ll be changed and be healed
And that is where our gifts are revealed
For when we’re reborn in the truth of it all
we know its about compassion not the fall
And when we can trust what we have been told
we give birth to a power that’s more precious than gold.”
In all this is a wonderful collection of Nature-centred poems for lovers of the Earth. It is something that can be used for both personal and group reflection, including group rituals and ceremonies. Highly recommended!
For more information see the GreenSpirit Book Series webpage on our website:
www.greenspirit.org.uk/books-greenspirit-book-series/#poetryanthology