Tag Archives: Uses of Poetry

On Little Songs & Lyrics to Genji

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Adam Penna

Next month, S4N Books releases my first full-length collection of poems, Little Songs & Lyrics to Genji.  Actually, the book contains not one full-length collection, but two long sequences.  The first, “Little Songs,” is a series of sonnet-like poems presented … Continue reading →

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Sabbatical

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Adam Penna

I started this blog to correspond with my sabbatical, which began officially in January and ended when I taught my first class in September.  It was a rough few days the first week, and I’m still not altogether used to … Continue reading →

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Two Attitudes: The Power of Poetry

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Adam Penna

There are two basic attitudes regarding the power of poetry.  The first is summed up by Tennyson’s Ulysses who, though old, manages to convince his men to sail with him once again “to strive, to seek, to find and not … Continue reading →

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In the Highest Limb, Satisfied

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Adam Penna

My thoughts these days have revolved around prayer rather than poetry.  For me these two aren’t so far apart.  Many of the poems I have written are more prayer than poem, as far as I’m concerned anyway, especially if the aim … Continue reading →

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On Poetic Insight

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Adam Penna

I listened to a good friend and a fine poet lecture on teaching writing a few weeks ago.  I was impressed especially by how she goes about teaching.  Her pedagogy is very similar to mine, and I chalk that up … Continue reading →

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A Few Thoughts After a Long Trip

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Adam Penna

It is part of the poet’s job to get used to his inner rhythms, those seemingly predictable patterns which, from a distance, map his temperament.  I was reading some old poems yesterday and found that, as I have always hoped, the new poems … Continue reading →

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The Dead Don’t Sing

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Adam Penna

I was feeling pretty awful the other day.  It was the 17th.  I know that because I picked up my Book of Common Prayer, turned to the psalm reading in the psalter for the 17th day, and read psalm 88. … Continue reading →

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Ours to Love

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Adam Penna

I literally wrote myself sick last week.  Mostly I think this was because I stayed awake for twenty-four hours the day of the big snowstorm to finish a series of poems, which I began perhaps a week before that.  I don’t … Continue reading →

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