Practical Gods

Pulitzer Prize Winner

Winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

A critically acclaimed literary treasure, Practical Gods is a captivating poetry collection that transcends conventional perspectives.

Many of the poems in this eighth collection by Carl Dennis involve an attempt to enter into dialogue with pagan and biblical perspectives, to throw light on ordinary experience through metaphor borrowed from religious myth and to translate religious myth into secular terms. While making no claims to put us in touch with some ultimate reality, these clear, precise, sensitive poems help us to pay homage to the everyday household gods that are easy to ignore, the gods that sustain life and make it rewarding.
  • WINNER
    Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
© Mary Richert
Carl Dennis is the author of 13 previous works of poetry, as well as a collection of essays, Poetry as Persuasion. In 2000 he received the Ruth Lilly Prize for his contribution to American poetry. His 2001 collection Practical Gods won the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Buffalo, New York. View titles by Carl Dennis

About

Winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

A critically acclaimed literary treasure, Practical Gods is a captivating poetry collection that transcends conventional perspectives.

Many of the poems in this eighth collection by Carl Dennis involve an attempt to enter into dialogue with pagan and biblical perspectives, to throw light on ordinary experience through metaphor borrowed from religious myth and to translate religious myth into secular terms. While making no claims to put us in touch with some ultimate reality, these clear, precise, sensitive poems help us to pay homage to the everyday household gods that are easy to ignore, the gods that sustain life and make it rewarding.

Awards

  • WINNER
    Pulitzer Prize for Poetry

Author

© Mary Richert
Carl Dennis is the author of 13 previous works of poetry, as well as a collection of essays, Poetry as Persuasion. In 2000 he received the Ruth Lilly Prize for his contribution to American poetry. His 2001 collection Practical Gods won the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Buffalo, New York. View titles by Carl Dennis