Adam Penna is the author of Talk of Happiness (S4N Books, 2018), Small Fires, Little Flames (Finishing Line Press, 2017), Little Songs & Lyrics to Genji (S4N Books, 2010), and The Love of a Sleeper (Finishing Line Press, 2008). His work has appeared in many literary magazines and journals, including Cimarron Review, Nimrod and Verse Daily. Penna is a professor of English at Suffolk County Community College and lives in East Moriches with his wife and family.
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Adam Penna 
2/22/09 – Hello Adam Penna
I enjoyed your words about Merton’s poetry and Fred Smock’s new book. I envy your participation in a writing group inspired by Merton’s work. I have found myself also inspired or sparked by his work in the past 6 months and a few poems have blossomed forth.
I also am reading Merton’s first journal and he speaks often of Dante’s Inferno.
Have you read the book Echoing Silence Thomas Merton on the Vocation of Writing Edited by Robert Inchausti? Starting on page 20 there is an essay written on October 24, 1958 “From Poetry and Contemplation: A Reappraisal.” Here Merton describes his experiences of a contemplative/mystic and compares it with his experience of an artist/poet.
I enjoyed the depth of your writing in your January 13 2009 blog and agree with your definition of poetry. I have found “sacred poems” flowing out of my life.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Claudia Hill Duffee, MA
Adjunct Professor, Computer Information Management
Bluegrass Community & Technical College,
Lexington, Kentucky
Educational Program Curriculum Design; multimedia web based programs
Poet: Sacred and Nature
Prayer and Healing Ministry: exploring the link between writing and recovery of health and wholeness currently exploring The Artist Way by Julie Cameron.
Thank you for your kind words, Claudia. I don’t think I’ve read the essay you mention. But I will now. I am particularly interested also in what you call “the link between writing and health.” I wonder what you have found.
Hello again – a few years later…
I took a course on Thomas Merton at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY last Spring 2010 and also found Merton’s poetry difficult to catch the spiritual essence. I also read Fred Smock’s book (a Bellarmine professor)and enjoyed it but also pull back at the political role of the poet. The Prophetic Poet insight is important for our world but I agree with you I am looking for the sacred conduit of Divine essence to flow.
Found two books that support this poetic focus in my ongoing research.
Saved by a Poem by Kim Rosen (secular use of poetry for healing focus) and Poetic Medicine by John Fox.
I have also discovered that many of the Christian Church Fathers and Mothers wrote poetry as a spiritual discipline in addition to their more well-known scholarly and academic work or in the case of women, their mystical writings.
More on that later…
Claudia
Claudia,
It’s wonderful to hear from you again. Thanks for the list of books. I’ll check them out. Good luck with your research, and keep me updated.
Adam
Hello, Professor Penna,
I was rereading “Iron John” today and remembered that it was you who recommended it in class. I googled your name to see what you’re up to and voila- here I am. Love the website. The essays are thought-provoking and helped me to remember the joy I felt attending your class.
p.s. Merton’s translation of “Wisdom of the Desert” might be the best thing he ever did.
Hi, Bill,
It’s good to hear from you, and I’m glad you’re liking the blog. Email me sometime over at the SCCC address and let me know what you’re up to.
HI Adam We met at Canio’s. I love your writing and it hits me in the heart. I would love to talk to you more.
Sure, Walter. I’d love to talk more. Thanks for the good words.
Greetings Professor Penna,
During the winter break I read Letters to Gengi, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hi, Faith. It’s good to hear from you, and I hope you are well. I’m glad, too, that you liked the poem. All my best.
Hello again….
In response to your interest (Feb 2009 blog entry) in the connection between writing and wellness I am including the link to my magazine article published in January 2016 by Bellarmine Magazine.
http://www.bellarminemagazine.com/how-to-seek-wellness-through-contemplative-writing/
It is a concise article of my research and implementation in workshops and small groups.
Enjoy!
Claudia Hill Duffee
Thanks, Claudia.
You were the first English professor I ever had, back in 2003. It was an 8:00 am English 101 class. It changed my views on writing, on reading, and on life. I believe I took 4 or 5 other classes with you through my roughly 3 years at SCCC. To this day, you continue to be an inspiration to me, although we haven’t spoken since probably 2006. Thank you.
I think of you often, Anthony. I hope you’re well and that you’re happy and healthy.
Thought of you today. Thank you for helping me to take writing seriously. I went for the MFA at Stony Brook Southampton because of you. Earned the degree in 2015. Hope all is well with you.
That’s terrific, JoAnn! I hope you’re well too.
Hey Professor Penna,
I took a few classes with you, oh, years ago now, which I greatly enjoyed and feel I learned a lot from. I dropped by, not to say anything much of importance, but to simply let you know I appreciated your wisdom, and the incredible poetry I became familiar with along the way. It’s October now, quite late at night, and I’m standing on my back porch noticing that the leaves have begun to change. And, as happens every year, I hear your voice in my head, urgently reminding me that “It is Margaret your mourn for”.
Thanks for the memories.
Best,
Lilah Quinn
That’s lovely, Lilah. I couldn’t think of a better compliment.
Hello Prof,
I dropped you class almost two decade ago. You likley don’t remember me but the last paper I handed in opened with the sentence ” I am a drug dealer”. As you learned in the essay, it wasn’t true. The essay was about our goals in life or something similar.
I still struggle with these issues. I’m almost 40 and making a career switch. It’s my first day back in school and your class came to mind as it has many times over the past 17 years. The free writing at beginning of class and your choice of deep philosophical topics taught me a love for writing and a lot about myself.
I just wanted you to know that your work had a lasting impact on the lives of your students. Even the dropouts.
I remember that essay though I can’t remember your name. I’m sorry about that because hearing things like this mean so much to me. Back in school, too. That’s awesome. Reach out to me. Let me hear more.