Reddit mentions: The best poetry themes & styles books

-This is a good place to start

-John Keay's India: A History is condensed, but a good starting point. There is a lot of great stuff for free online that comes from translated manuscripts.

You can learn a lot about the character of ancient Indian civilization through multiple sources.

-The Mahabharata is great...its origins are in early the Iron Age, a period when Indian civilization as we know it was in its nascent form, but was added to in subsequent years, up to and including the Gupta period, considered India's "Golden Age." Greek sources may be alluding to it when they mention that the Indians have an epic several times the length of the Iliad. Just like the Iliad, parts of it may be anachronistic, but its a great "summary" of Indian civilization, in a sense (and a pretty cool story to boot, IMO).

Now as you may have guessed, the Mahabharata is HUGE. Its also written in Sanskrit verse, and is full of puns, embellishment, and other hard-to-translate stuff. Its also full of stories within stories within stories. There are goings-on in heaven and hell that wind up affecting or explaining events on Earth, in addition to the worldly reasons events must play out in the master plan of the gods and kings with stakes in the action. Depending on how in-depth you want to go, you can:

a) read the whole damn thing in English. Its in the public domain. This translation can be challenging though...its very literal, and uses a lot of Sanskrit terms. Still, a patient reader will find it enjoyable. There is another incomplete version that is more literary, and is also done by a native English speaker.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mahabharata-Volume-Book-Beginning/dp/0226846636/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332757766&sr=1-7

b) Read this charming abridged version:
http://www.gita-society.com/bhagavad-gita-section3/mahabharata.pdf

Read it as if an elderly, but kind Indian gentleman was narrating it to you, and I guarantee you will have a gret time.

c) Read r. k. narayan's novelization, and supplement with a more in-depth translation of the Gita.

-Another interesting peek into Indian civilization comes from the Buddhists. The Questions of Milinda purports to record a conversation between a Greek king of Bactria, and a Buddhist monk. Milinda, who is identified with Menander, supposedly became Buddhist.

-The Ajanta Caves are full of ancient murals that will give you an idea of what ancient Indians wore, and what their buildings looked like.

-Temple architecture


Hampi, the Cholas, and Jain enclaves escaped destruction during the tumultuous middle ages. Check them out for more architecture.

Also google these guys for a phoren perspective:

Megasthenes

Fa xien

Al-biruni

vasco da gama

Lover

I wrote a book of love poems for my dearest love. I hope you will be inspired by my words to attract a lover you desire!

The paperback comes with a free digital version. The digital version is available on Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you so much!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1696912253/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sGCQDbC4X6ZY5

JADE

The color of spring that lifts high my heart

the winter now passed, in due its part

I have no hold to keep you in tow

and like my favorite season, you'll come as you go


Jade is a collection of poems written during the year 2018. I began writing them in the middle of Spring, at a time in which I was quickly falling in love. As time passes, so do many of the joys we experience and so it is with love. As quickly as well fell together, we fell apart, and that theme is introduced and reintroduced throughout.

The work also contains a number of nature themes inspired by imagery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A fair amount is also expressed concerning the conflict of having an analytical mind, or as described therein, a wandering mind. One that chooses willingly to divest nearly too much effort into wherefore and why.

All in all, the book will take readers through many experiences I had during the year and decided to express in writing. Some of them are very personal searches and attempts at gaining understanding of my own thoughts while many others are a quick jaunt through word play and rhyme.

Please enjoy these pages as much as I have, thank you.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1093961775/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

FREE ........FREE ...........FREE........!

இலவசம்...!

திவாகர் இராஜேந்திரனின்

ThaamanMath💕 / தாமன்மதி 💕

Dhivagar Rajendran

The Free version of my first book ThaamanMathi is now available on Amazon Kindle for free. Get your Copy as soon as possible.

தாமன்மதி புத்தகத்தின் அமேசான் கிண்டில் பதிப்பு இன்று இலவசமாக கிடைக்கிறது. உங்கள் பிரதிக்கு விரைந்திடுங்கள்.👇✍️

ThaamanMathi: தாமன்மதி (Tamil Edition) https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07ZXXNQG9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_evuWDbGC8SW5T

Amazon Kindle version is available for FREE today. Get your copy as soon as possible.

To get the Hard Copy of the book:

ThaamanMathi / தாமன்மதி : திவாகர் இராஜேந்திரன் கவிதைகள் https://www.amazon.in/dp/1647334594/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-vuWDb1DFB4X1

படித்ததும் ரிவியூ மற்றும் ரேட்டிங் வழங்கவும் 🤝

I've published a collection of my poetry that includes 62 poems and my original artwork. It covers my struggle with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. I began writing it after seeking out help for my issues. My one hope is that my words can let others with similar issues, hopes, and dreams know that they aren't alone in this world.

These poems were very relieving to write. Some are based on dreams I had and one, Her Ghost, is based on a real hypnagogic hallucination. This is my first time writing and I was particularly surprised at the positive feedback that I've received from others that weren't friends or family. Hopefully, others out there can get something out of my writing. I appreciate any feedback or comments.

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Genuine: A Poetry Collection - Vol. 1 : $2.99 eBook and available on Kindle Unlimited and $10 paperback available!

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Vol. 2 currently in the works!


Also, check out my friend Tom's poetry book: JADE

It's available as a paperback for $7.99!

[FREE] New FREE book LOVE, contains 100 poems dealing with Love, Lust, and everything in-between. Some are about heartache, some passionate. Available FREE 4/26 - 4/29

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QPB862Q

Mechanics of Reincarnation is on Gumroad and Kindle and Smashwords. Check out the physical book on Gumroad because it's actually quite nice imo -- we went with a Risograph printing process, and with a sleeve like an album. Also -- you don't have to buy my book, I performed and edited a film of it in a psychedelic style, and I'm putting it up in twenty parts on YouTube one part a week. I'm on part six coming up tomorrow.

>What do you believe is the role of the modern poet?

I think it's to expand poetry to a revelance. If you buy we're in a Closed-Mind Crisis, which I truly believe we are, then I think it's poetry's role to forge an approach to meaning-making without the propagandic assumption. The modern poet's role is to fix the world. To skate out onto Kierkegaard's thin ice for the real thing.

>What poet(s) did you imitate, starting out? Alternatively, what poet(s) do you hope to be like in the future?

Octavio Paz, Tranströmer and Ben Lerner. Little bit of Anne Carson and Tracy K Smith. A lot of Emily Nelson. I want to be Mac Vogt. I want to research neurophilosophy much more deeply. And I want a deeper romanticism.

>What's the most recent thing to inspire one of your poems?

Breaking up with my girlfriend after watching Call Me By Your Name + struggling with declining viewership of my YouTube series and no sales outside of close family, even as I still believe I'm making one of the best things in the world.

Giants of the North: A tale in Verse

>A dark power is sweeping across the land.
Our lone hero hears of a strange disturbance in the forests, and travels north to lend aid.
What he finds there is more than he can comprehend, but is it all as it seems?
A tale of adventure and magic, told in verse.

A pretty short poem, in total this is a 25 page booklet. Currently running a promo, the ebook can be downloaded for free at this link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GT42DWB/
Enjoy :)


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https://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-God-Men-Homosexuality-Tradition/dp/0299190943

Here's the description of the book. It's a reflection on the jewish faith and same-sex love. I'm not jewish, but my best friend is, and she thought the passage was sweet so she sent me that image. Idk wether she has read the entire thing or if she found this bit online, though, so I can't really give you context for now

> (there never will be new canon in that universe again)

Think again!

Just throwing this out there because I'm super excited for it.

Its canonical status might be somewhat debatable, so take it how you will, but Christopher's compiled, novel version of Children of Húrin is pretty great!

Nobody else has said much, so I'll help with what I can. For awhile this was one of my favorite mythemes and although I can't recall any specific info/theories about the significance of eating in the underworld, I may be able to at least point you in the right direction.

There is a chapter in Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces dedicated to these myths (there are dozens spread across the world), so you might want to check there first. I remember he detailed a number of these stories and recounted key similarities and differences, I just can't recall if he gave any specific info about the significance of food or drink.

I also recommend checking up the Mesopotamian myths of Inanna/Ishtar. Her stories feature all the templates for an underworld descent you mention here and it is possibly the oldest recorded work of literature (iirc some of the tablets that the story is recorded on are literally oldest narrative texts we've recovered). Her story is only slightly different in that she is a goddess and therefore the underworld she is visiting is her sister's realm. It's a great read and in particular I can recommend Diane Wolkstein's excellent translation/adaptation. This volume not only tells the story, but also provides a few great essays that might contain the answer you're looking for.

Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion (collectively known as Hyperion Cantos) by Dan Simmons. easily my absolute favorite books, ever - not only are they well written, they mingle theoretical physics and science fiction in a way that makes my nerd girl toes tingle with anticipation.

*edit: words everywhere! also, don't want the pizza (I'm sure someone else can put it to much better use than me). just want to share good books :)

I've made a Valentine's Day Card that will get the wamen in your life to slide off their chairs in sheer sticky adoration of your charm and taste AND subscribe to pewds.

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You can find the card here:

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United States: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1794697217/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_T2AwCb179J50B

United Kingdom: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1794697217/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_fZAwCb2YPSJ7M

​

The inside of the card has the following poem:

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I don't want roses,

I don't want a ring

I don't want a rainbow

I don't want you to sing

You warm my heart

Like the sunshine in may

But there's only one thing

That will brighten my day

I don't want to the moon

or the stars in the sky

If you really love me

SUBSCRIBE TO PEWDIEPIE

​

It has a heart-shaped QR code that will take your crush directly to the subscribe button

Do you like fantasy stories? The Gita is actually just one chapter in India's greatest epic, the Mahabharata. It's an amazing story, and gives a great cultural background for Hinduism. Hindu's other epic, the Ramayana, is also lauded by many. I actually just began reading it recently.

Hindu's purest (and probably the world's longest) treatise on non-duality is the book at the very top of the bookshelf, Vasistha's Yoga. It's intense, so if you are just beginning, it's probably not the best intro to Hindu thought.

The most ancient written roots of pure Hinduism are found in the Upanishads. Eknath Eswaran's introduction and commentary are sublime.

A more modern, yet just as mystical take on Hinduism is The Autobiography of a Yogi.

The Bhagavad Gita centers mainly around Krishna, one of Vishnu's most popular avatars. It takes place during a war. The family of Arjuna, who is a king, betrays him. Both sides ask Krishna for aid in the war. To remain neutral, Krishna gives his army to Arjuna's family and Krishna becomes the personal Charioteer of Arjuna. As they are about to enter the war, Arjuna becomes conflicted. Krishna reveals to Arjuna that he is an avatar of the god Vishnu. The entire text is the conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. Krishna gives Arjuna advice on how to live a spiritual life on all accounts. Devotees of Krishna place an extremely high value on the Bhagavad Gita.
Here is a link to an English translated version of the text: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Easwarans-Classics-Indian-Spirituality/dp/1586380192/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494927615&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=bhagavad+gtia
And here are links to Krishna sites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna
http://www.krishna.com/info/about-krishna#

Kalki is said to be the last avatar of Krishna. He has yet to be born. At the end of the Kali-yuga (which is the time period we are in,) Kalki is said to be born ina hidden paradise called Shambhala. He will ride across the Earth on a white steed and cleanse the Earth of evil, returning us to a golden age of peace.
here are some links to pages about Kalki:
http://www.yoga-philosophy.com/eng/kalki/kalki.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki

Although this next one is more controversial, a lot of people believe Buddha to be an avatar of Vishnu. There isn't really a specific book or site to go to for this one, but there are several books on Buddhism and documentaries on the Buddha.

Another popular Vishnu avatar is Rama. Rama is said to be the perfect man. His story is told in an epic called the Ramayana, in which his wife is kidnapped and he must rescue her.
English version of Ramayana: https://www.amazon.com/Ramayana-Modern-Retelling-Great-Indian/dp/0865476950/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1494928047&sr=8-2
Sites for Rama: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama

There are a lot more avatars of Vishnu, but these ones are the main ones. For a bigger list, they are links to all of the major ones here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu

It's also good to keep in mind that beliefs on who the avatars of Vishnu are vary from region to region and from tradition to tradition.

tl;dr: No, 'U' not exclusive to Ecclesiastical Latin in modern texts

The difference is mostly in orthography. In latin texts you'll see mostly three established ways of dealing with U, V, I, and J:

1. the Ecclesiastical orthography which treats the consonantal varieties (the ones followed by a vowel and therefore considered a consonant) as separate letters and write them as Vv and Jj (confer jam and vir but insignia and unus), where the vowel varieties are written as Uu and Ii, respectively.
   
   
2. the modern orthogragraphy (which most editions will use) which distinguishes between Vv and Uu, but does not use the letter Jj (iam, but still vir)
   
   
3. the more true to classical orthography (which I've observed in Ganiban's Aeneid 1-6) doesn't differentiate at all, and instead merges the Vv and Uu forms to write the UPPERCASE as V and the lowercase as u resulting in fun things like Vlixes.
   
   EDIT: Ganiban seems to use the modern orthography as well, but still writes capital U as V which is just confusing to me. Can anyone say whether this is the standard?
   
   EDIT2: for an example of the third 'classical orthography', confer the Oxford Latin Dictionary.

I can't vouch for it personally, but I've heard that the more recent Mojaddedi translation is quite good and faithful to the original. u/pacman99

https://www.amazon.com/Masnavi-Book-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199552312

Edit: looks like he tries to make it rhyme, though, which means that it isn't a word-for-word translation. I don't know how this compares to Nicholson's approach.

• I LOVE the Life of Pi. I recommend reading the "editorial reviews" because Amazon does a terrible job summing up how great the book is.
  
• I also highly recommend the Ramayana this is the version I read. I like this retelling because, while long, it give you a sense of what this story truly is--an Indian epic.
  
• Books by Deepak Chopra (I suggest looking through reviews of diff books to see if any catch your eye).
  
• The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
  by the Dalai Lama because it is a very sincere book and I can almost visualize what he is saying.
  
• If you're in the mood for a bit of silliness, I recommend The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible because while being funny, it does teach you a little bit of the lesser known tenements of Judaism and Christianity.
  
• Last but not least, I recommend reading travel books. If you look for well written (read: not just looking for cheap laughs) books, even if they don't intend to, they inevitably talk about their personal views on the world--their personal religions.

It doesn't contain any rituals, but you might find that this book could inspire you. Inanna is the Sumerian/Babylonian goddess associated with love and sexuality as well as the planet Venus.

I'm a huge fan of the historical fiction by Bernard Cornwell--especially the Arthurian legend trilogy, the Warlord Chronicles (beginning with the Winter King). Obviously Arthurian tales influenced and captivated Tolkien, as demonstrated by his poetry, but these books are just spot-on for any lover of good fiction with fantasy elements.

There's a newer translation available which probably does it more justice. It has footnotes against certain verses to highlight their particular religious significance.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0199552312/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_vMcCybE7MGXH1

I found it a much more enjoyable read than the Barks revision of the text.

My personal favourite work on the subject of Inanna-Ishtar is Ishtar by Louise M. Pryke as part of Routledge's Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World series.

It's quite expensive in hardback form, so I suggest trying out the Kindle edition or searching around elsewhere. Perhaps you'll be able to find it in another format.

Also, of course, there's Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth by Diane Wolkstein. I've heard very good things about it, but haven't been able to get to it yet, unfortunately.

For correspondences, things of a Venusian nature might work very nicely. :)

I love reading up on the lore of LotR! Iirc, the new Beren and Luthien book just came out this week and I plan on getting it soon! Oh happy cakeday too!!

You can preview the first few chapters here: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061142662/ref=reader_auth_dp

And if you decide to read it, I'd definitely go with Mitchell's translation. It's not the most accurate, but it's a really beautiful and poetic translation (and good for beginners).

Just note that I disagree with u/midnighttoker3 about this being relevant to what you're looking for. I really don't think there's a fleshed-out notion of soul or reincarnation in Taoism, or at least in the Tao Te Ching. I'm sure you can find some proof-texts to challenge this claim, but there can be no denial that Hinduism and some forms of Buddhism are more soul- and reincarnation-heavy than Taoism.

Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:


amazon.com

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This demonstrates the power of pure truth and honesty. The only works I've ever read that demonstrate this kind of self-knowledge are Ghandi's autobiography and The Awakening of Intelligence.

Thanks for the video.

Sorry for your disappoint. However, you STILL might find some historical writing pretty fascinating. Try reading Inanna, Goddess of Heaven and Earth or Sumerians, might just be what you're looking for.

Get this book this exact one. Read it forwards then backwards. It lead me down the path of accepting things and learning how to make myself happy.