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Reviews
Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Various, Daniel Ladinsky
mirandanoble's review
3.0
There were some real shining moments. And also, a lot of Instagram poetry. I think that I liked a lot of what the mystics and saints said, but wasn’t the craziest about how Ladinsky worded it. Good ideas and lackluster execution. But very easily readable.
rlafleur85's review
2.0
We used some of these poems in a book for our wedding. Interesting international perspective.
hmrogers's review
2.0
The editorial voice bled through each of the very different authors in a way that made the poems less impactful. Ladinsky’s frequently obvious omissions and additions turned what were likely beautiful, intimate insights into and encounters with the divine into unspecific, New Age-y, spiritual nonsense. The structure of the poems is lovely, but if you’re looking for any real depth or insight into the heart of God for his creation, I’d definitely recommend reading Ladinsky’s source material first.
c_serpent's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
This was fun. Theologically, do I agree with everything? Nah. But we don't have to be afraid of reading anything by anyone, as all truth is sourced from God. And if it ain't true? I'm savvy enough to ignore it.
Generally: The female poets in this collection were largely magnificent. The Indian poets were, like, tremendous. Loved them all. Gold stars to them specifically. My most major qualm with this was not with the poetry, but was with Ladinsky's formatting, namely, center justification. Please just do not do that. It's so tacky. It's so hard to read. Also, there was no rhyme or reason to the line breaks that I could tell, and sometimes for no reason the words went down the page
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Which also is bad form and achieved nothing besides getting me to roll my eyes. Bad show, old chap.
Because I Hated every formatting choice in this book, I'm going to blatantly ignore them in this review, and blithely change the line breaks because God understands that I must. End words have to be strong, and strike me dead where I stand if i ever
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More specifically (and in order):
⦿ Rabia was lovely.
Generally: The female poets in this collection were largely magnificent. The Indian poets were, like, tremendous. Loved them all. Gold stars to them specifically. My most major qualm with this was not with the poetry, but was with Ladinsky's formatting, namely, center justification. Please just do not do that. It's so tacky. It's so hard to read. Also, there was no rhyme or reason to the line breaks that I could tell, and sometimes for no reason the words went down the page
l
i
k
e
t
h
i
s
.
Which also is bad form and achieved nothing besides getting me to roll my eyes. Bad show, old chap.
Because I Hated every formatting choice in this book, I'm going to blatantly ignore them in this review, and blithely change the line breaks because God understands that I must. End words have to be strong, and strike me dead where I stand if i ever
d
o
t
h
i
s
!
More specifically (and in order):
⦿ Rabia was lovely.
Until we know God lives in us
and we can see him there,
a great poverty we suffer.
Like, ok!!!
⦿ Francis of Assisi had only one good poem. I share it here, so you can skip his section:
⦿ Francis of Assisi had only one good poem. I share it here, so you can skip his section:
Always from the child's hand
the sword should be removed.
I think every nation
is an infant.
⦿ Rumi was all right, and I'm glad I got this book with a sample of his work without buying a collection of ONLY his works, or I would have been emo. He has a couple good ones in here.
⦿ Meister Eckhart? Dude was literally inspired. I am delighted to have been exposed to him and do think that I'll be trying to find more of his stuff in the future because dang man ok.
⦿ St.Thomas Aquinas? Unpopular opinion and a hill I will die on forever: his work is as uninspired as it gets. It's as bad as it was when I read his writing in high school. His only good lines were
Every truth without exception—no matter
who makes it—is from God
(because I literally just said that, and I am correct) and
more tender is my Lord's heart
than any heart has ever been.
⦿ Hafiz I'm REALLY glad I never purchased before this because he also only had like two okay poems and one good line. Shared here, so you can skip him too.
Riches? Here's a pick;
my whole body is an emerald that begs,
"Take me."
Otherwise? I had high expectations that were not met. Soz, Haf.
⦿ St. Catherine of Siena? Big love. What a BABE. What a LADY. My fave:
⦿ St. Catherine of Siena? Big love. What a BABE. What a LADY. My fave:
"I won't take no for an answer,"
God began to say to me
when He opened his arms each night
wanting us to dance.
⦿ Kabir is one of the Indian poets and like holy cow. Read this:
You are sitting in a wagon
being drawn by a horse
whose reins you hold.
There are two inside
of you who can steer.
Though most never hand
the reins to Me so they go
from place to place
the best they can,
though rarely happy.
And rarely does their whole body laugh
feeling God's poke in the ribs.
If you feel tired, dear,
my shoulder is soft.
I'd be glad to steer a while.
Like. Holy cow. I don't have anything else to say. Bye.
⦿ Mira is also from India, and her poetry is so delicious. She literally is like "If you cannot picture God in a way that strengthens you, you need to read more of my poems." Like dang, okay girl!!! Tell me some more. She makes me want to write poems. Good stuff, good stuff.
⦿ St. Teresa of Avila:
⦿ Mira is also from India, and her poetry is so delicious. She literally is like "If you cannot picture God in a way that strengthens you, you need to read more of my poems." Like dang, okay girl!!! Tell me some more. She makes me want to write poems. Good stuff, good stuff.
⦿ St. Teresa of Avila:
Just these two words He spoke
changed my life: "Enjoy Me."
What a burden I thought I was to carry—
a crucifix, like He did.
One of her poems starts like this. Like. Excuse me. "What a burden I thought I was to carry." But the Love of God is such that you are a burden that weighs nothing; you are a delight to hold; you are an object of desire and a treasure and something to be shown off. I never even realized I thought I was a burden to carry until I read this, and that's what good poetry is: a revelation. Really enjoyed her.
⦿ St. John of the Cross was just fine? I wanted him to be better, but he was like tortured and stuff, so I'm sorry for not loving your work more, John?? Sorry, man.
⦿ Tukaram was a treat. 10/10 to him. You're doing amazing, sweetie. I would like to eat his poetry like candy.
One star has been removed, crumpled, and binned because of formatting. (Fight me, Ladinsky.) Four stars remain because of everyone except for Thomas Aquinas, because I have a personal vendetta against him.
I leave you with this poem by Tukaram (one of the Indians, and therefore Great):
⦿ St. John of the Cross was just fine? I wanted him to be better, but he was like tortured and stuff, so I'm sorry for not loving your work more, John?? Sorry, man.
⦿ Tukaram was a treat. 10/10 to him. You're doing amazing, sweetie. I would like to eat his poetry like candy.
One star has been removed, crumpled, and binned because of formatting. (Fight me, Ladinsky.) Four stars remain because of everyone except for Thomas Aquinas, because I have a personal vendetta against him.
I leave you with this poem by Tukaram (one of the Indians, and therefore Great):
It's the old shell trick with a twist:
I saw God put Himself
in one of your pockets.
You are bound
to find Him.
Total score: 4/5 stars
angelreadsthings's review
4.0
Although these are not direct translations of their originals, the power and insight first expressed by these poets is still very present. Each section holds something thought-provoking and eye-opening about God, ourselves, or the world in general that I think can be seen regardless of the reader's religious background if encountered with an open heart. Divine love is deeply manifested in this work, and I will definitely treasure it for years to come.