The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy
by James Crews (Editor)

4 out of 5 stars

This book has poems from many different poets on all types of subjects that all lead back to kindness, love, and joy. Each poem has a little snippet of beauty, something we can recognize around us in life and say “this is a good thing.”

I like how simple many of the poems are. They cut right to the heart of something that we usually overlook: a child swimming, a family getting waffles at a hotel, a tulip, a heartbeat, the smell of clean laundry.

But just because the poems point us to the beauty in life doesn’t mean that they shy away from the sad or ugly things. There are several poems that talk about someone with cancer, or grieving the loss of a loved one. Even in the distressing and sad things, there can be a type of beauty if we look closely for that silver lining.

Like most things, there were a few poems that really spoke to me, and others that I did not like. In general, I prefer poetry that rhymes and has meter, which these do not. I’m not usually a fan of modern poetry, but some of these poems are beautifully crafted.

I love the pretty design of this edition, and the gorgeous deckled edges of the pages! There is something so luxurious about deckled edges. It’s the little details that made this book so special, like the one-paragraph bios of each poet and the reading group questions at the back of the book. Some of the poems have a famous quote with them that inspired or somehow matches the poem. There are also pages with a “Reflective Pause” that gives a short explanation of one of the poems, and invites the reader to explore the deeper meaning with some prompts and questions.

This book makes such a lovely gift, and would be a great way to start reading more modern poetry! You could even use this book as a sort of meditation, since it is so full of joy and light!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.