A Cup of Sun: A Book of Poems

by Joan Walsh Anglund

Aphorisms and poems on life and the universe

Genres: Poetry, Fiction

63 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1967

About the author

Joan Walsh Anglund was an American poet and children's book author and illustrator, with more than 120 books that have sold over 50 million copies around the world in 17 languages.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Joan Walsh Anglund's art and all her little books such as A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You. I checked this out from the library (from another branch) because it was one of the few Anglund books in the database. So, I was surprised to receive it and find that not only are there few (and very simple, such as a bird or a star) illustrations, but also that this is a book of poetry for adults. I'm still very glad I read it, but I guess I just missed some of the childhood charm that the other books hold.

I enjoyed most of the poems, and some I was drawn to especially:

"Thoughts,
rest your wings.
Here is
a hollow of silence,
a nest of stillness
in which to hatch your dreams."

Many are quite hopeful, though a few are a bit darker or more deeply contemplative:

"Day!
Now thoughts begin.
On dawn's gray back
old fears ride in."

Or

"Why, when others were winged,
was I made a snail...
to crawl on humblest garden path,
to leave such a slender trail?"

But then again,

"Faith is the patient seamstress
who mends our torn belief,
who sews the hem of childhood trust
and clips the threads of grief."

And I especially enjoyed some of the little bits of wisdom:

"Success is a garden
with too much sun.
Be careful it does not dry your roots."

"No book
can teach us Self.
It is a hidden language
only Heart can read."

I'm no poetry expert, but Anglund's books have always touched me and this one is no exception.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read over the reviews for this book of poetry, and was honestly surprised at how highly it was rated. I feel like the poems are trite and shallow; they lack interest and feel like nursery rhymes for adults. There is nothing challenging or worthwhile about this book of poetry, unless you like that sort of reading.

[Uudenkuun Emilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Most of these poems felt too short and unfinished; I would've liked Anglund to have followed the strands of thought further. Intriguingly, seeing as this collection was published in the 1960s, I was somehow reminded of some Instagram poetry we have today in the 2010s: pretty, nice thoughts, but ultimately trite (in my opinion).

[Debbie Petersen Wolven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book of poetry I ever read! I got it for Christmas that year and it is signed by the author, who also took the time to draw my name on the flyleaf in a way that looks like a cloud in the wind. A small bird sits atop the D.

[ILostMyAccountInfo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a flower
Steeped in mourning dew
Such a small thing with insignificance
Yet for the bee it's existence is due
To refresh upon it's lips
The fresh heavenly waters did he drew.

Excuse my amateur poetry, it's just that there is something refreshing and inspiring about the way Joan writes in such a whimsical manner. Something we see everyday and pay no attention to becomes a whole other world in her words. They're short, yet enchanting. Not everyone will get it, I most certainly didn't when I first read this book. I'm glad I came back around to this again.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm a fan of short, train-of-thought kind of poetry, but in this bundle it was hit or miss for me. Its age also doesn't do it much good. For me, it's not old enough to be vaguely charming, the way poetry from the 1920s and 20s are, and not new enough to give that spoken word feeling. Still, there were a few poems that I did like enough to mark them, and I think the little drawings that come with moest poems, help sell this little book as well. And of course, bonus points for the hardcover being yellow.

[Rosette Thorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I only pick this up from my local library because I’m behind on my 2024 reading goal aaanndd this book is so, so small and minuscule? Maaayyybeee.

But I wanted to read some poetry anyway. <3

Almost all the poems were short and brief, reading more like aphorisms and quotes which have been aesthetically spaced out. Some stuck with me. Some did not. I might use this in a conversation one day:

Just outside my wisdom
are words that would answer everything.

[Aimee Leonhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my grandfather’s book and I read it about thirty years ago not long after he died. Reading Anglund’s obituary in the New York Times reminded me of this little volume again. It is even better than I remembered. So many of the poems really resonated with me. I don’t think I will let so much time pass before rereading it again.

[Sarah Gnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great simple poetry book that was filled with little gems of wisdom. This is a really accessible poetry book for people just getting into poetry or for someone who just wants something light but also inspirational.

[Alyssa McNiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

None of the poems struck me as profound but it was still, overall, an enjoyable read. Very short, ai finished it in less than 10 minutes.

[tiffany nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is poetry,
if it is not the silent singing
each man hears
within his own heart?"

What a delightful little book.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did Rupi Kaur ruin poetry for me?

[Katherine Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some poems made me smile, some made me weep.

[Anna McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my favorite books - since my mother gave it to me in 1967, when I was 13 years old. I still love its simple and poignant prose.

[daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!My Rating 5.5 stars!!!!!

This is with out a doubt my new favorite book!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from my mom to me as I struggled to finish my sophomore year of college . . .