Ten Poems to Change Your Life

by Roger Housden

Great poetry calls into question everything. It dares us to break free from the safe strategies of the cautious mind. It opens us to pain and joy and delight. It amazes, startles, pierces, and transforms us. It can lead to communion and grace.

Through the voices of ten inspiring poets and his own reflections, the author of Sacred America shows how poetry illuminates the eternal feelings and desires that stir the human heart and soul. These poems explore such universal themes as the awakening of wonder, the longing for love, the wisdom of dreams, and the courage required to live an authentic life. In thoughtful commentary on each work, Housden offers glimpses into his personal spiritual journey and invites readers to contemplate the significance of the poet's message in their own lives.

In Ten Poems to Change Your Life , Roger Housden shows how these astonishing poems can inspire you to live what you always knew in your bones but never had the words for.

"The Journey" by Mary Oliver
"Last Night as I Was Sleeping" by Antonio Machado
"Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman
"Zero Circle" by Rumi
"The Time Before Death" by Kabir
"Ode to My Socks" by Pablo Neruda
"Last Gods" by Galway Kinnell
"For the Anniversary of My Death" by W. S. Merwin
"Love After Love" by Derek Walcott
"The Dark Night" by St. John of the Cross

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Book Club, Anthologies, Unfinished, Religion

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 2001

About the author

Roger Housden is the author of some twenty books of non fiction, including the best selling Ten Poems series. His new book, SAVED BY BEAUTY: ADVENTURES OF AN AMERICAN ROMANTIC IN IRAN, comes out on May 17 2011 with Broadway Books.

Reviews

[Lee Kuiper · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the author were an honest man he would have titled this book Ten Poems that Changed My Life. Instead he and his publisher decided to pursue the zeitgeist of non-fiction in the year 2000 and publish it as Ten Poems to Change Your Life so they could make some money. It’s hard to blame him. No one would have read this book if he was actually honest with the title. Instead, many people were duped into reading a shallow and disjointed memoir that’s somehow bloated with both feel-good fluff and vomit-inducing entitlement.

The back cover labels this as “Inspirational/Self-Help”; the only thing this book “inspired” me to do was to write this stupid, scathing review so as to warn others to stay far away. And the only way it allowed me to “help” my “self” was by helping me get multiple, unexpected naps in the middle of the day. Now I’m well rested to think clearly about all the ways this book sucked.

So, no, I did not enjoy being tricked into reading this half-assed attempt at an airy-fairy, saccharine memoir that holds good poetry at gunpoint in order to sell itself. I should have seen this book as it is: a petty attempt to cash in. If you are like me, merely looking to find more good poems and poets to expand your experience of poetry, you can read these 10 poems online (most of the poems are actually pretty good) and pretend no one ever profaned poetry by writing this book.

GOOD DAY SIR!

[Josie J]

Unfortunately I have got my first dnf of the year. This was a blind date book and it ended up not really being my thing.

[Bob Breen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several years ago, I adopted the habit of reading a poem every morning to start my day. I flip through my much-loved 2,000 page Norton Anthology of Poetry and pick a poem mostly at random. I read it through once, a second time aloud, and then ruminate on it for the day. I mark each poem with the date I read it, and now this tattered paperback is littered with my scribbles and underlines. I cherish this book. It's most definitely my desert island companion.

However, a nagging doubt troubled me with many of the poems. Did I really get it? Was I missing something crucial about the poem that would make my appreciation of it that much better?

With this in mind, I decided to read Ten Poems to Change Your Life. The poems in this volume were beautiful, but I soon found the accompanying analysis and narrative took away from that beauty. I mean, the author writes well and makes good points, but I quickly learned that for me, poetry isn't a team sport. E.B. White's commentary on sailing fits here: "The sea was the same as a girl to me I did not want anyone else along." Reading Mr. Housden's views on each poem and what it meant to him was like taking sandpaper to that precious, ephemeral poetic glow.

I enjoyed the poems in the book, but in the end, I found I am better off without the commentary. It was a good lesson. From now on, I'll stick to my beloved Norton anthology.

[Rochelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got Insomnia? Try this book!

The ten poems, while they didn't change my life rather than waste a bit of time that I can't get back, aren't too bad. I figured even though I wasn't a huge fan of poetry I could knock off 10 poems. It was Housden's wacky dissection of each poem that bored me to death. I decided to just stick to reading the poems after I had read 2 of his regurgitation of the poems, and that was enough!

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger Housden collects ten poems and discusses their implications in this book. Of the poems included, I had only heard of Song of Myself by Walt Whitman.

Aside from Whitman, Housden discusses poetry by Pablo Neruda, Mary Oliver, Rumi, Kabir, and St. John of the Cross.

Housden includes the entire poem, besides Song of Myself, which I understand. Housden authored the book at the turn of the century, but the poems he discussed are timeless. They speak to humanity as a whole.

I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Jeff Shelnutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Housden did a nice job with his picks of what he feels are momentous poems. Another title could have been "Ten Poems to Cause You to Think About Life in Ways You Haven't Before." Of course, this would be ridiculously wordy and not be nearly as marketable as the title it currently possesses.

Most of this book is the author's commentary on the poems he chose. I know some people would prefer not to receive any influence as to how they should interpret a poem, but I personally gleaned helpful insight from Housden's views that broadened my perspective when I reread each selection.

A friend gave me this book so that I could explore some poets I wasn't familiar with. I am grateful that he did. In particular I'll be looking out in the future for Mary Oliver, Antonio Machado, W.S. Merwin, and Rumi.

I will offer a warning that there is one very explicit poem in this collection.

[Night City Moves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great poem selection, and writing.

I can't pick one favorite, but I have my top 3, I just can't decide which order to put them in:

The Journey by Mary Oliver
The Dark Knight by St. John of the Cross
Love after Love by Derek Walcott

A fast read, only a few hours. It can brighten your moment/day/life/existence.

[Linda Stuckey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delighted in the poems and in the analysis of each one. I am thinking this is a book to keep on hand and savor from time to time.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot say that I ever expect poetry to change my life. Rather good poetry is a mirror that reflects back my life and makes me happy for the recognition of myself that I see in another's description. Does that make sense? Anyhow, this book was the cherry on top of the sundae that was this year's Christmas celebration. And this poem was one of the best. I will only quote the last few lines though the whole poem, "The Journey" by Mary Oliver is truly lovely.

". . . . .But little by little,/as you left their voices behind,/the stars began to burn/through the sheets of clouds,/and there was a new voice/which you slowly /recognized as your own,/that kept you company/as you strode deeper and deeper/into the world,/determined to do/the only thing you could do---/determined to save/the only life that you could save. "

[Jo Berry ☀️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s always hard to rate an anthology, which, in this case, is the product of eleven authors - ten poets and Roger Housden. It’s an interesting selection of poems, but I didn’t get much out of Housden’s commentary.

As there are only ten poems, it’s the commentary which makes up the bulk of the book, but it felt confused and rambling. I often wasn’t sure what Housden was trying to say or it sometimes just felt a bit banal.

As for the poems, I don’t know if any of them will change your life, but I do recommend reading them. I particularly liked Mary Oliver’s ‘The Journey’, Derek Walcott’s ‘Love After Love’ and the extract from ‘The Dark Night’ by St John of the Cross.

[Lanette Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent though brief collection of poems to spiritually awaken you, with engaging, easy-to-read explication following each poem. A lovely little book that would make a great gift for anyone who loves poetry or wants to embrace more mindfulness in their lives.

[Jacqueline Aubin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A more honest and accurate title would be “Ten Poems I Did Not Write” or “Ten Poems That Changed My Life.” It’s not a book of poetry written by the ‘author’ it is a collection of other poets’ work and the author’s interpretations and commentary of their work. The title should reflect that.

[Suzie Leadabrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted to me by my dearest friend, Elvira. Thank You.
Amazing little book to dip into and read and ponder.

[J & J · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book's concept is interesting but I only connected with one of the ten poems chosen.

[Molly Rothwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I wanted this many allegories for God I would have read tha bible 💯💯💯

[Thomas Holbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adage, “when the student is ready, the Teacher will appear,” fits with my reading this book. I studied Poetry while in college as it was part of the curriculum for my English Major, but that genre of Literature never took root within me. The talks of “meter,” “Iambic Pentameter,” directions of “don’t read poems in cadence,” “free verse vs rhyming verse” were the conversation of a craft the tools of which I could not locate. There seemed to be something I was missing that would turn Poetry from a point of frustration to an experience of sublimity. As I got older, I began to understand that the “something” missing in my ability to “get” Poetry was the location from where I was reading poems. Poetry must be read with the eyes of the heart, not just the machinery of the mind. Hence this Student was ready for the teacher.
When a friend and trusted fellow-journeyperson recommended this book with the statement, “I could not consider myself a friend if I kept this (book) to myself.” I need more friends like this one in my life. This little book offers the author’s discussion of ten poems that are powerful enough to shift the reader’s very life.
Reading these poems and the discourse following each is as close to a poetry class as I can imagine without formally enrolling in an education institution. The author’s expertise in the discipline of Poetry and following the challenges they propose is of depth, breadth and longevity. He selects ten poets from different cultures (Sanskrit to the Desert Fathers to Humanist Philosophy) different times (the 13th Century to the present) to speak to a generation who is rich, self-absorbed, busy and largely aimless. These poems and supporting couplets do, in fact, possess phrases of explosive power to one’s soul.
Throughout the book, the poems speak to responding to ones’ heart and the truth held there (p. 13). It is not enough to know (your heart), you have to begin (your journey),” daring the reader to live life as they were created to live. Taking this step requires waking up, to “not the event but the eyes that we are seeing with (p.25).” We are reminded that we are limited by our self-perception to what we are willing to admit we don’t know (Ch. 4). Life and death are constantly present in life, existing in the same moment. We are bound by beliefs & preconceptions of how life is but “the sky will always grow larger” when we release our beliefs of how life is “supposed to go” (Ch. 5). It is the mundane and common that causes life to be – breath, clothing and food – the things touched daily without notice. When those things are “noticed,” the “common” will become splendid (Ch. 6). A full life flows through all the senses, allowing one to connect with the world more fully. Such living is diminished when such sensuality is confused with and limited to the erotic (Ch. 7). Embracing the reality that one’s days are limited gives freedom and motivation to live life more fully. Rather than being morbid about death celebrating the rarity of life is the hope offered in the Eighth chapter. Eventually, everyone will cease being “of two minds” about themselves – the person displayed for the world and the person we truly are – and the freedom found in such self-acceptance will abound in living from that point forward (Ch. 9). Mr. Housden ends with a poem from a Desert Father, St. John of the Cross, where the reader is reminded that there is a sustaining, guiding Presence who shelters all; Mr. Housden identifies this Being as the wondrous, imponderable reality of Love. Not a shadowy, emotional, pale term made common by popularity, but a moving, shaping, creating Power none can (eventually) resist.
The book is a must read and reread for whatever “stage” of life one finds her/himself. I will seek out Mr. Housden’s other “Ten Poem” books. This one touched me in good places.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title makes a strong claim. That a poem could have such a powerful effect as to change your life may be far fetched. Yet poems do have the ability to pierce our armour, and it is by such unguarded transmissions that we are most affected; perhaps transformed.

Any one of these poems could do it, for RH has indeed gathered some of the most exceptional and powerful pieces to make up this volume. And if the poems themselves aren't quite enough to achieve that, it is quite possible that further investigation of any one of these poets works will.

Poetry like this is rigorous, demanding, ecstatic....to read poetry like this can be a fierce and dangerous practice; dangerous because you may never be the same again.
from the introduction p1

If you open your eyes and look with wonder, even a pair of socks will dance with the filaments of light. p67 RH commenting onPablo Neruda Ode To My Socks

I was at least somewhat familiar with all but two ( the Spanish Antonio Machado and the American Galway Kinnell who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983, whom I had never even heard of) of the poets in this anthology which satisfactorily spans chronological time. Happily, all the poems included except for one, were new to me, even the ones by Mary Oliver and Rumi, two of my favourite poets. The poem by Derek Walcott I know because it is featured on an album of poetry and cello with Jami Sieber and Kim Rosen called Only Breath. It was great to actually see the words; and the words were enriched by the lush production I have already wired into my being.

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt-marvelous error!-
that a spring was breaking out in my heart....
Antonio Machado trans. Robert Bly

But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized was your own,
that kept you company.....
Mary Oliver The Journey

Be helpless, dumbfounded,
unable to say yes or no...
not sure of anything
Rumi Zero Circle trans Coleman Banks

Peel your image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
Derek Walcott Love After Love

If you don't break your ropes while you're alive,
do you think
ghosts will do it after?
Kabir trans, by Robert Bly

[Banbury · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a terrible book. It actually rates less than a star. The commentary provides too much personal (and disconcertingly jejune) information that cannot be of interest to anyone other than the author and his apparently odd wife. His discussion of the poems sounds like a mawkish college freshman at three o'clock in the morning after having taken many bong hits discussing how each grain of sand could be its own universe.
One also has to ask whether there was an editor. On page 41, it is clear that the author has no idea what the word "kelson" means; he apparently believes it to mean a subatomic particle, when in fact it is a part of a ship. On page 93, he misuses the word "enormity" to mean vast, rather than its correct meaning of extreme wickedness or evil. For a book about poetry, it is remarkably insensitive to the meaning of words, or the aesthetic pleasure of using them economically.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a fabulous little book i read a few years ago that made me fall in love with poetry, all over again. every poem included here carries with it a powerful message of love, faith, loss, recovery, adventure, reflection and gratitude...and i really enjoyed reading roger housden's commentary on each of the poems. since there are only ten pieces in the entire book, my suggestion would be to read one poem per day and letting the themes of the piece marinate with you for a while. i'd also suggest journaling along while reading the poem/commentary for each day in order to record your own insights into the pieces. i have to say--reading this book really jumpstarted my own writing practice and i am thankful to the author for putting this collection together. enjoy!!

[Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It wasn't perfect but it will have a special place in my heart because I read it to my mother while she is in the hospital. I did skip over one poem because it dealt with death and partially skipped over one other poem because it dealt with erotic love. Other than those two poems, Housden did a nice job of discussing and analyzing the poems in a way that was easy to follow. I have his other book " Ten Poems to Last a Lifetime" and I plan to read it to my mother during her recovery. I am a firm believer that books have healing properties, and I believe this book helped not only my mother to heal but me as well.

[Wendy Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me by a dear friend several years ago. While I have read excerpts from it before now, this is my first reading of all 10 poems. This book is incredible - truly the first time I have appreciated the beauty of poetry. This book spoke to me right now in my life.

[Meghan]

A gift from my husband on our 1st anniversary.

[Sigrun Hodne · Rating 3 out of 5]

not exactly life changing ...

[Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book as a birthday gift and really looked forward to reading it. The title certainly is ambitious and I respected someone to have the gumption to put poetry into actionable practice.

There are 10 poems by a variety of poets -- contemporary and historical, some well known, some not. The first poem -- Mary Oliver's The Journey-- is a knock out. Most of the others range from good to very good. I liked being exposed to some of the poets who were new to me: Machado, Kabit, Kinney, Walcott, and St John of the Cross.

File these poems under "Self help/spiritual seeking/mystical". I would have preferred some of the poems to be from another genre. I would also have preferred more poems and shorter essays to accompany each one. While there is an attempt to apply the poems to our daily lives, mostly this application is an abstract mystical self-reflection sense, rather than change your mindset & do something different behavioral sense. Mary Oliver poem is the clear exception-- i am glad that Housden leads off with that poem.

Quibbles aside, overall I'm glad I read and own this book.

[Luna M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a farewell gift from a friend. Otherwise, I would not have read it. While the poems were good, the author’s commentary felt skippable. It was full of superficial platitudes and one-liner life lessons in the taste of Coelho’s “The Alchemist.” Some of his reflections were your run-of-the-mill version of spirituality you might hear at a yoga retreat. Others were sprinkled by a subtle dose of orientalism and exalted exotification. I rolled me eyes through most of it. Just go straight to the source material of whatever potpourri of Eastern philosophies the author is picking bits and pieces from.

PS. Not the epilogue recommending Ladinsky’s fake anthologies of Hafiz! How can the author call himself a “lifelong student” of poetry without knowing that Ladinsky’s books aren’t actual translations (he doesn’t even read Persian) but poems he made up himself while being “inspired” by Hafez’s voice in his dreams! Please be serious!!!!

[Olivia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

"and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life that you could save." - Mary Oliver, "The Journey"

So this is a hard book to rate, because it's an anthology by 10 different authors + reviews by the editor. I honestly skimmed the reviews, as I didn't find them particularly useful for me. The poems were hit and miss, but I'm glad I read them because there were a couple that I LOVED. A cool collection, I'll check out the others in the series. I do like the attitude this series takes towards poetry, in terms of not requiring a formal education in literature or needing to read poems from a particular historical period together.

[Glorey · Rating 4 out of 5]

TBT, I would rate 4.5. Yes, I do think that poems can change your life, and if you read this at the right time, it is very encouraging and some things to put some thought into/consider.

I picked up this book at the thrift shop as I like poetry, and I was not disappointed. I loved this book, reading the poetry, and the insights from the author were wonderful. This is a book that I don’t think is best for reading right through, but more for picking up and reading bits with a cuppa coffee and allowing the words to ruminate for a while.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who in any way, shape or form, has an inkling to like poetry. I don’t often keep books, but this is one that I will put on my sparse bookshelf and will go back to reread the poems. I enjoyed and am still enjoying.

[Jey Kalimuthu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the book. I was skeptical at the jump, and the first couple of poems didn’t keep my attention. As my moved forward, I really got into the poems, and the explanation and personal revelations by the author really lent to the love of poetry that permeates this book.

I love poetry and haven’t read anything in a long, long time. This book draws me into the world of poetry and the poems included here are done to bring joy, and celebration to the spiritual nature of human life.

“Wake up and love” is a central theme of this book, as is enjoy every moment.

I really enjoyed this book and will keep it by my night table, ready to open to any page when the moment asks for it.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

New meaning to "one person's trash, is another person's treasure." I found this book in a second hand shop for 50 cents, and was intrigued. As a reluctant poetry reader that has numerous friends really into poetry, I thought surely a chance to "change your life" was worthy of 50 cents. Perhaps one the wisest investments I've ever made. I really am enlightened and excited to pass this book onto others as it is a valuable resource that must be shared. I appreciate the raw honesty of the Housden, as well as his enlightened perspectives. An absolute gem that you will want to pass on, so buy multiple copies, especially if you should be so lucky as to find copies for 50 cents!

[cantread26 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alright my life is not changed and I wasn't a fan of most of the poems. I liked Ode to My Socks but that was about it. A lot of unnecessary details about editor's life. And some religious undertones which is not helping my life in any way. Also some sexism! "Women are both genetically and culturally disposed to caring for others, even when it means disregarding their own needs" (13). After I read that I was not interested in any of the author's comments so just read the poems. Don't recommend CLEARLY DOES NOT DELIVER AS THE TITLE ADVERTISES.