Art & Wonder: An Illustrated Anthology of Visionary Poetry

It is not unusual to find an anthology of spiritual poetry, especially in these days of interest in such matters. It's slightly more difficult to find poetry matched with art, and matched well. This collection combines what it calls "visionary poetry" with works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I can only say that Kate Farrell, who put it all together, must have a deft hand, a great eye, a broad heart, and a fabulous poetry collection. The poems she chose cross the centuries (Proverbs, John Keats, Robert Bly), come from known and unknown poets (Emily Dickenson, Anonymous Chippewa Indian), and represent many countries (America, England, France, Persia, Germany, Japan, etc.), and most are matched with two works of art. The selections are astonishingly appropriate, and makes one wish that all museums would display their art with some poetry alongside instead of, or in addition to the usual dry blurbs about the artwork.The book is broken into thematic sections, Dwelling in Possibility, Sailing to Byzantium, The Secrets of the World, and A Further Sea. The acknowledgements in the back make it easy to find the work of a poet who might have particularly struck your fancy (and is how I was introduced to the amazing work of Mary Oliver).At $18.95, this little gem is more than worth the money, and deserves a place on your shelf!

This is a wonderful book which juxtaposes works from Poets ranging from Emilyu Dickinson to Mary Oliver to John Milton with reproductions from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, often two images to a poem. The poetry by itself is exquisite, ditto the art, but the combinations are inspired and inspiring. I bought this book as a gift but couldn't bear to part with it so I gave it to myself & keep it by my bedside.