Another Day: Sabbath Poems 2013–2023

Berry’s Sunday morning walks are the inspiration for these “Sabbath poems,” which he has been writing since 1979. Existing in a space of reverence and reflection, they are full of powerful turns of phrase that feel like incantations: “a world of words could not/ describe this wordless world”; “the river is a place passing through a passing place.” In this companion volume to 2014’s This Day, Berry continues exploring the themes that have been the foundation of his life’s work: the natural world, deep respect and awe for sustainable agricultural practices, and an ongoing lament of the damage humans have caused to both. His famous rejection of modern technology—Berry does not use a computer—and sharp criticism of contemporary society has earned him beloved fans, though some poems can feel as though they are reprimanding the reader: “If not for mortality and its troubles/ all humans would be idiots or/ monsters, for they would see no limits/ to their selves and their hungers.” Elsewhere, Berry vibrantly renders redemptive moments spent in nature. Readers will find solace in these contemplative and captivating pages. (Aug.)