Inspirational Poems?

[squeakywheel]

My mother-in-law is going to have her stem cell transplant at some point during the next month, as part of her cancer treatment. She e-mailed me this morning to ask if there is a book of poetry that I could recommend for this time

Comments

[melyndaf]

I'm not sure how uplifting he is, but one of my favorite poets is Kevin Stein, Illinois' poet laureate.

But, if you want REALLY uplifting? Look for this book. It isn't poetry, but it is WONDERFUL: Of Beetles and Angels By Mawi Asgedom. He's from this area and he's so inspiring (and incredibly intelligent and HOTTTTTT I might add).

Just a thought :-) I hope the transplant goes really well!

[squeakywheel]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm not familiar with either of them (although perhaps I should have heard of Stein, since I'm originally from Illinois). I'll check them both out and let you know what I think. :)

[pookusmaximus]

Well, I have a suggestion, though I don't know how you'll feel about it. I would like to submit for your consideration the works of Rumi. Rumi's poetry is religious in nature, and he is Islamic. However, his words are so beautiful and uplifting that I think they tend to be universally appealing. Lots of the poems are more philosophically inclined, rather than religiously, although many of them do have some sort of vague reference to God. Example:

There's a shadow on the window
In stenciled definition
Shaped in the outline of a rose.
The shadow's of a cane
With a flower at its tip,
Leaves and thorns
All along the length of it.
Well framed
On the dusty window pane.

Real as a shadow
But not as a rose
It moves although never touched
By the wind

Outside, the real rose
Glows in the morning sun.

I think that could appeal to a lot of people who are simply spiritual.

[squeakywheel]

That sounds nice. I think she'd be offended if I sent her Christian spiritual poetry but probably not Muslim---although I see what you mean that this has a mass appeal. Thanks for the suggestion; I'll check more out. :)

[posteverything]

Have you ever checked out Ted Hughes? Him of course being Sylvia Plath's husband..under the shadow of his wife he wrote some amazing stuff. Examination at the Womb-Door probably being my favorite.

[squeakywheel]

I don't think I've ever read Ted Hughes, no. I'm definitely intrigued by him but I didn't know that his stuff could be classified as inspirational/positive/uplifting/whatever the word is.