A truly international collection, this book contains wonderful, accessible poems with an emphasis on excellent poets that aren't household names, although many of my favorite 20th century poets represented. Walt Whitman is also well represented and I'm reminded that I must really reread LEAVES OF GRASS soon. I was especially pleased with so many entries from ancient Asian (especially Chinese) poets, an area with which I am not as familiar.

The poems are grouped by categories such as People, Places, Travel, etc. and Milosz has an introductory comment on most of them. I preferred to read the poem before I read the comment so I could compare my reaction to his. Now that I have read the entire collection, I would like to have 2 copies--one for my guest room bookshelf and one to keep in my night table when I want to find something soothing and lovely to read before falling asleep. ( )

This is one of the best anthologies ever assembled! When my brother was dying, he kept only three of his books and gave the rest away. This was one of the three on his bedside table. ( )

Easily one of the most incandescent collections I have ever read. The title is well chosen. This anthology introduced me to both new poets I highly respect and new poems that haunt me. ( )

Not my favorite anthology but great nonetheless. ( )