Gregory Orr Knihy

An innovative and accessible guide to poetry writing by an award-winning poet and beloved professor.

"This is a book about desire and its relinquishment. Beginning with the question "How can I celebrate love, /now that I know what it does?" Gregory Orr's spare, elegant verse recasts one of the oldest tales of ideal, unattainable love"--Jacket.

The collection features three poetic sequences that blend spirituality and storytelling. "Eden and After" reinterprets the tale of Adam and Eve, while "The City of Poetry" imagines a visionary city where poems manifest as homes. The final sequence, "River Inside the River," delves into themes of redemption through the transformative power of language. Gregory Orr's work is characterized by its meditative lyricism and profound insights, offering readers solace and hope through his masterful exploration of life and loss.

Exploring the interplay between pain and creativity, this volume delves into how imagination can forge meaning from suffering while celebrating love and language. It addresses themes of survival and the vulnerability of the self amid chaos, revealing hope through poetry's emotional resonance. The author employs meditative lyricism, reflecting on personal grief and broader societal issues through extended odes and poignant reflections, creating a profound dialogue between individual experiences and collective tragedies.