James Crews releases his fourth book of poems, The Sacred Everyday: Poems of Peace & Stillness (Andrews McMeel Publishing), next week. True to the title, these poems open a window into Crews' life and observations in Vermont—they offer a slice of blood orange to the reader, a thick piece of sourdough bread with butter, a steaming cup of mint tea. The Sacred Everyday contains dozens of petite moments of awe and wonder.
As I read this collection, I found myself glancing up at a photo of Mr. Rogers on my bookshelf, a model of kindness and empathy. The world Crews presents abounds in such thoughtful neighbors—human, plant and animal. As in the poem, "Look for the Helpers," which ends:
...in spite
of the news. I will watch workers dressed
in neon vests with shovels and buckets
filling potholes across the city, the asphalt
steaming as they spread it over the street,
then tamp it down, repairing what they can.
The Sacred Everyday offers lucid observations of the natural and domestic world. Crews encourages us to mine for such moments. Each section concludes with an essay that explores a theme followed by a prompt to write about it. Sincerely, I stopped to journal about each one and looked forward to them as I worked my way through the book.
In addition to The Sacred Everyday, Crews is the author of Breathing Room: Poems of Rest & Retreat (Mandala Publishing) and Turning Toward Grief: Reflections on Life, Loss and Appreciation (Broadleaf Books); and the editor of several bestselling poetry anthologies: The Wonder of Small Things, Love Is for All of Us and How to Love the World (Storey Publishing).
We are truly honored to have Crews with us here on The Poetry Shop 5 to discuss some of his favorite poetry books. Read on to hear about the poet and books that have inspired him.
Welcome to The Poetry Shop 5, James Crews. We’re excited about the release of your new book, The Sacred Everyday. Please, tell us about your new book.
This book really began to take shape in the years after losing my mother, who died suddenly of heart failure when she was in her early sixties. Losing her, and my father twenty years before, taught me that our everyday lives can be held in a sacred way, especially if we stay aware of our own brevity here on Earth. Many of the poems started coming to me during a few trips to the Algarve in Portugal where I finally felt some healing and easing of my grief that had been holding on tight for those first few years. Many of these poems also deal with kindness and the idea of “helping,” and so that theme also became more apparent as I kept sharing these poems on social media.
Who was your "gateway poet," the poet whose first book or poem got you interested in poetry?
My gateway poet was Naomi Shihab Nye, whose Red Suitcase (BOA Editions) taught me what poetry could do in an accessible way.
I came across Naomi's book, Red Suitcase, at an indie bookstore in St. Louis and was immediately drawn to her words that seemed to cut to the heart of things without adornment or without anything extra. I was so impressed by this, though it would be years before I would be able to meet her, and we would read together. Naomi's kind, open, big-hearted spirit still inspires me every day. She remains the most generous poet I know both on and off the page.
Which poetry book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Universe Marveled into a Jar (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions) by Laura Grace Weldon.
Laura Grace Weldon writes poems from a sacred point of view, yet also in a way that is never preachy or didactic. She takes the everyday materials of life—an old bottle of homemade hot sauce in the fridge, for instance, and transmutes them through her words. When I'm reading her poems, I feel my whole nervous system slowing down, and I see the world around me differently, with deeper attention, too.
Is there a book on the craft of writing that you recommend to poets?
My old teacher and mentor, Ted Kooser, has a wonderful book on craft called The Poetry Home Repair Manual (Bison Books). I recommend it to everyone.
I love the humility with which Ted Kooser writes about the craft of poetry, giving readers insights into his poems as well as a generous sampling of favorites. He doesn't make poetry sound inaccessible or esoteric, but instead helps us all to feel that we can write well, too.
Who is a new voice in poetry that we need to check out–someone with a debut book or recent release?
Moudi Sbeity's Alhamdulillah Anyway (Fernwood Press) is a definite must-read debut book.
Moudi Sbeity is a Lebanese-American poet, who also has written a memoir called Habibi Means Beloved. His poems and prose both find holy ground everywhere he walks in the world, and invite readers both to slow down and see our lives with greater clarity. His compassionate and sensitive heart holds the sorrows and joys of this world with such a capacious generosity. I also recommend that people follow his Substack, Habibi Means Beloved.
Finally, what’s a poetry book that others may not know about but deserves a shout out?
This Far North (Boreal Books/Red Hen Press) by Alaska poet Susan Campbell is a gorgeous new collection from Red Hen Press.
The poems in This Far North bring to life a landscape--the interior of Alaska--with which most of us are probably not familiar. Susan Campbell weaves effortless metaphors from her encounters with nature, and is also an artist herself, using elements from the natural world in the organic artist books she creates.
About James Crews
James Crews is the author of the poetry collections, The Sacred Everyday, Turning Toward Grief, and Breathing Room. He is also the editor of numerous bestselling poetry anthologies, including Love Is for All of Us (winner of the Gold Nautilus Award), The Wonder of Small Things (winner of the New England Book Award), The Path to Kindness (winner of the Silver Nautilus Award), and How to Love the World, which has sold nearly 100,000 copies. He has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, in People Magazine, The Boston Globe, The New York Times Magazine, The Sun Magazine, and The Washington Post. Host of the writing community, The Monthly Pause, James often leads in-person retreats at centers like Kripalu and Omega Institute. He lives with his husband in Vermont. For more information, and to sign up for free weekly poems and reflections, visit: jamescrews.net
Poetry books referenced in this article.
The Sacred Everyday (Andrews McMeel Publishing) by James Crews
Also by James Crews: Breathing Room: Poems of Rest & Retreat (Mandala Publishing) and Turning Toward Grief: Reflections on Life, Loss and Appreciation (Broadleaf Books); and the editor of several bestselling poetry anthologies: The Wonder of Small Things , Love Is for All of Us and How to Love the World (Storey Publishing)
Red Suitcase (BOA Editions) by Naomi Shihab Nye
Universe Marveled into a Jar (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions) by Laura Grace Weldon
The Poetry Home Repair Manual (Bison Books) by Ted Kooser
Alhamdulillah Anyway (Fernwood Press) by Moudi Sbeity
This Far North (Boreal Books/Red Hen Press) by Susan Campbell