Robert Bly Books

"[The editors'] collaboration resulted in a book with a remarkable group of poets across the ages, from Emily Dickinson to Charles Bukowski, from Catullus to Bob Dylan. . . . These are poems focusing on concerns of the heart—fathers and sons, love and hurt, peace and war, anger, denial and zaniness." —  Seattle Post Robert Bly, James Hillman, and Michael Meade challenge the assumptions of our poetry–deprived society in this powerful collection of more than 400 deeply moving poems from renowned artists including Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Theodore Roethke, Rainer Maria Rilke, Marianne Moore, Thomas Wolfe, Czeslaw Milosz, Henry David Thoreau, Pablo Neruda, and Nikki Giovanni.

Originally published in 1976, with more than 75,000 copies in print, this collection of poems by fifteenth-century ecstatic poet Kabir is full of fun and full of thought. Columbia University professor of religion John Stratton Hawley has contributed an introduction that makes clear Kabir's immense importance to the contemporary reader and praises Bly's intuitive translations.By making every reader consider anew their religious thinking, the poems of Kabir seem as relevant today as when they were first written.

"Few major achievements of world literature are as little known to Americans as the great ecstatic poetry of the Hindus and Sufis, as exemplified by the work of the 15th century master, Kabir. Irreverent while being intensely religious, Kabir seems incredibly playful in his taunting of the sacred dogmas of his time--to readers accustomed to the solemnity and ideological fidelity of most Western religious poems. Kabir has been translated into English only once before, by Rabindranath Tagore and Evelyn Underhill. Unfortunately, Tagore's Victorian English was simply not equal to Kabir's directness, spontaneity, and irreverent humor. Working from the Tagore-Underhill translation, Bly has done much more than retranslate into American diction. A noted poet himself, he has breathed new life into the work of a fascinating poet"--From back cover.

Robert Bly's ground-breaking anthology of spiritual poems, the result of over a decade of personal research, celebrates the ongoing role of the divine in literature. For as long as people have lived together in communities and built enduring cultures, they have sung and written about their relationship with the god or gods they believed in. In the words of the Irish writer Sean O'Faolain, "all good writing in the end is the writer's argument with God." The Soul Is Here For Its Own Joy gathers poems from a wide range of cultures and traditions and divides them into ten parts, each forming a resonant exploration of a specific and timeless spiritual question. Selections include the work of Dante, Dogen, Goethe, Hafez, Juan Ramon Jimenez, Kabir, Lalla, Li Po, Mirabai, Mary Oliver, Owl Woman, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Rumi, in addition to Blake, Dickinson, Donne, Hopkins, Stevens, Yeats, and other important English and American poets. Together these poems form both a celebration and a quest--a kind of pilgrim's progress that embraces all the rich wisdom of East and West, ancient and modern, male and female, spirit and flesh.

A stunning collection of poems by Mirabai, the fifteenth-century female Indian ecstatic poet. Like Coleman Barks's translations of Rumi, this collection of poems by Mirabai will appeal to anyone interested in spiritual poetry.

The 25th anniversary edition of Robert Bly's classic explores a new vision of masculinity, reflecting on the impact of absent fathers and lost initiation rites. Using the Grimm tale "Iron John," Bly highlights stages of male growth and the importance of deep, protective masculinity. This profound work inspires both men and women.

Robert Bly, renowned poet and author of the ground-breaking bestseller Iron John, mingles essay and verse to explore the Shadow -- the dark side of the human personality -- and the importance of confronting it.

Robert Bly's ghazals blend a sense of wildness with an elegant structure, captivating readers with their originality. These poems explore deep emotions and themes, presenting a fresh perspective that resonates with the audience. Bly's unique voice and innovative style make his work both striking and memorable.

Imaginative prose poems showcase a blend of wit and delight, offering readers a unique and engaging experience. The author's playful language and creative expression invite exploration of themes and emotions, making each piece a captivating journey. The work stands out for its ability to entertain while provoking thoughtful reflection.