Poetry and mysticism go together like meat and potatoes. And they are equally nourishing. In fact, it is astonishing that more spiritual teachers don't require those they counsel to set aside a regular time every day to immerse themselves in the poetry of Rumi, Kabir, Hafiz, Chuang Tzu, or Rainer Maria Rilke. Think what a difference such a steeping would make in their daily outlook! Imagine the changes that could be brought about in the world through the influx of the revelations of these mystical poets!

In his third in a series of poetry collections (Ten Poems to Change Your Life, Ten Poems to Open Your Heart), Roger Housden has chosen 110 of his favorite poems about "the Soul at White Heat." There are exalted and exulting selections here about wonder ("O Taste and See" by Denise Levertov), love ("I Take Master Card" by Nikki Giovanni), gratitude ("Love After Love" by Derek Walcott), grace ("Three Times My Life Has Opened" by Jane Hirshfield), joy ("So Much Happiness" by Naomi Shihab Nye), and being present ("Sweet Darkness" by David Whyte).