365 Days Of Poetic Praise

Back in 2015, James Benger decided to put a process into place to make his writing more consistent. He made a New Year's resolution to write a poem a day for a year. To help make the resolution stick, he established a closed Facebook group and asked some writers he knew if they were interested. Soon over 200 participants were involved. In 2016 the fruits of this effort were celebrated in the first volume of 365 Days: A Poetry Anthology, which the four editors put together from poems submitted by a small core group of members who wished to participate. Here we are at it again. We hope you enjoy the poems collected here. They are the result of The James Benger System of Consistent Writing, otherwise known as 365 Poems in 365 Days. In 365 Days, Volume 2: A Poetry Anthology 18 poets contribute 76 poems collected by editors Roy Beckemeyer, James Benger, Dan Pohl, and Diane Wahto. Jeanette Powers, author of Perfectly Good Muses, says of 365 Days Volume 2: "The 365 Days poetry project is an illustration of conviction and community coming together and creating something exquisite in both its ambition and content. This online group, writing daily, generates a tremendous amount of creative energy and this anthology displays the grand result. Occasionally infused with the group's comments, the reader is delighted to be included in the fun. Poems, pastoral, micro, narrative, absurd, and intimate, play over the pages in perfect concerto of how a year of one's own life passes: with highs and lows, sighs and bellows." Shawn Pavey, author of Nobody Steals Towels from a Motel 6, says of 365 Says Volume 2: ..".a delightful read full of great moments from established and emerging poets...among the many bright spots in this collection...Paul Koniecki ('Carry the sun in your arms to a safe house / and leave it in an unmade bed of pillows and down, other / minor ceelestial objects, and soft music from a turntable in the / corner of another room')."

"The 365 collections are remarkably consistent in delivering everything you can imagine. In fact, reading through 365 Days, Volume 3 is like lounging in a hammock, strawberry lemonade at hand, while the winds of poetic voice buoy you from heartache to bliss and back again. Every page is a refreshment. Hats off the editors, for compiling yet another top-shelf collection."-Jason Preu, author and cult leader"With their different styles and themes, these poems by twenty-three different authors are like a salad where vegetables, fruits, and seeds in a variety of colors, shapes and textures come together to create a whole that is larger than the sum of its parts. The poems muse about octopus dreams and bathrooms in paradise, compare artichokes and motherhood, tell stories, recall memories. One of the poems claims "Almost everything/in life could be shorter." Not this book."- Agnes Vojta, author of The Eden of Perhaps (Spartan Press 2020)

The Harvard Classics in 365 Days aims to provide a whirlwind tour of classic literature. By reading for just 15 minutes a day throughout the year, you can discover text from “twelve main divisions of knowledge” including History, Poetry, Natural Science, Philosophy, Biography, Prose Fiction, Criticism and the Essay, Education, Political Science, Drama, Voyages and Travel and Religion. Based on Dr. Eliot's “reading guide” for The Harvard Classics, a complete chapter of reading material is included for each day of the year (even February 29th, in case you are reading during a Leap Year): "These selections assigned for each day in the year as you will see, are introduced by comments on the author, the subjects or the chief characters. They will serve to introduce you in the most pleasant manner possible to the Harvard Classics. They will enable you to browse enjoyably among the world’s immortal writings with entertainment and stimulation in endless variety.." Each reading is framed by an introduction, a context in which the text can be read and understood, often with insightful information about the author, it's wider history, or why that particular selection is appropriate reading for that day.

This inspirational book of poetic devotions and encouraging and sometimes challenging scriptures will assist you in starting your day in devotion and worship. The poetry inspires, while the scriptures challenge you to live your life intentionally in times of joy, sorrow, and adversity. The poems assure you that you are not alone in your struggle or on your journey. This devotional will incite reflection and lead you into your day with renewed purpose and a stronger conviction about who you are in Christ.