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Practical Gods: A Review of Carl Dennis's Latest Collection

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Published in Practical Gods (Penguin Poets) Carl Dennis

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Practical Gods (Penguin Poets)

by Carl Dennis

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	380 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	77 pages

In his latest collection of poems, Practical Gods, Carl Dennis explores the nature of the divine. Dennis does not offer easy answers, but instead invites readers to contemplate the ways in which we seek out and create gods in our own lives, and how these gods can both help and harm us.

The poems in Practical Gods are full of rich imagery and evocative language. Dennis writes about everything from the natural world to the human condition, and he finds the sacred in both. In the poem "The God of the Garden," for example, Dennis writes about a man who finds solace in his garden. The garden is a place where the man can escape from the cares of the world and connect with the divine.

In the garden, the god of the garden
is a small god, a god of small things,
a god of earth and water and air.
He is a god of growth and decay,
a god of life and death.

The god of the garden is a practical god. He does not offer the man any grand promises, but he does provide him with a sense of peace and contentment. The man finds that he can connect with the divine in the simple things of life, and this connection gives him strength and hope.

Not all of the gods in Practical Gods are as benevolent as the god of the garden. In the poem "The God of War," Dennis writes about a god who is responsible for the death and destruction of countless people. The god of war is a cruel and unforgiving god, and he takes pleasure in the suffering of others.

The god of war is a god of blood and fire,
a god of death and destruction.
He is a god of chaos and disFree Download,
a god of fear and hatred.

The god of war is a dangerous god, and he should be approached with caution. He is a god who can destroy lives, and he should not be taken lightly.

The poems in Practical Gods are a reminder that the divine is a complex and multifaceted thing. There are gods who are good and gods who are evil, gods who are helpful and gods who are harmful. It is up to us to decide which gods we will worship and which gods we will reject.

Practical Gods is a powerful and thought-provoking collection of poems that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Dennis is a master of his craft, and he uses his words to explore the deepest questions of human existence. If you are interested in poetry, religion, or spirituality, then I highly recommend reading Practical Gods.

About the Author

Carl Dennis is an American poet who has published over a dozen collections of poetry. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the National Book Award for Poetry. Dennis is a professor of English at the State University of New York at Buffalo.