The World's Best Poetry, Volume 04: The Higher Life

by Unknown

"The World's Best Poetry, Volume 04: The Higher Life" by Bliss Carman and Washington Gladden is a collection of religious poetry first published in the early 20th century. This volume is part of a ten-volume set that presents a compilation of American poems focusing on various themes, with this particular volume centering on the intertwining of religion and poetry, reflecting on higher spiritual truths and experiences. At the start of the volume, the opening essay by Washington Gladden establishes the relationship between religion and poetry, advocating that the two are deeply interlinked. He discusses the historical reluctance among some religious circles to accept poetry as a legitimate form of expressing spiritual truths, noting that great religious thoughts are best articulated through poetic expression. The section emphasizes the influence of various poets throughout history, highlighting how their works have contributed richly to religious experience and understanding, setting the tone for the anthology of poems that follows.