The Wonder Paradox

December 19, 2022
Poet and historian Hecht (Doubt) designs a liturgy for a disenchanted world in this insightful outing. Noting that many who happily “live outside religion” still yearn for its sense of meaning, Hecht suggests “a shift in the way we think about ritual and the poetry of our lives”—specifically a recognition of their ability to fulfill some of humans’ deepest needs. In chapters on daily practices (decisions, sleep), holidays (sabbaths, earth days), and life celebrations (weddings, funerals), Hecht shows how poetry can mark a moment, unpacking a central poem for each and suggesting accordant rituals. The “Eating” chapter offers ideas for a “private prayer over food” and analyzes Li-Young Lee poem, “Blossoms,” and its “succulent/peaches we devour, dusty skin and all” (for which Hecht suggests eating is “a longing to hold what we have lost... to not let the peaches pass by”). Elsewhere, Hecht invokes Inger Christensen on gratitude and Wislawa Szymborska on holidays. Drawing on an admirable array of poets (many not Western), Hecht synthesizes artistic and spiritual insight in astute but not stuffy ways, and welcomes readers unsure where to start: “If you are looking for a... poem, but nothing rustles your chimes, pick some anyway and will grow on you.” This impresses.