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Spacetime Nirvana
“Are you my overactive imagination?” I asked the god.
“Of course I am your imagination,” He said.
“The imagination is holy and given to you freely…”
There is no shortage of imagination in ’Spacetime Nirvana’ the new poetry collection by Kevin R. Pennington. This collection digs into a cruel, hyper-masculine upbringing to unearth the kind, compassionate adult the poet knows himself to be. The imagery, though often appearing in dreams and meditations, is spotlessly conveyed to the reader making it easy to empathize with what the poet has experienced. Pennington’s emotional self-awareness shines through as he writes plainly about his own struggles with mental illness, a first date with his wife, or having to put a beloved pet to sleep. The weaving of Buddhist lore with jazz scripture and touches of stylized haiku make this a mentally challenging as well as heart wrenching read.
Vin Whitman
True Stories of the Odd Equinox
Crisis and creativity have coexisted in a double helix since our race first found words to give voice to pain and fear. Weave in belief – so often the third cord in a strand of the broken, as both cure for and cause of those feelings – and the thread with which Kevin R. Pennington weaves Spacetime Nirvana, a collection both raw and hopeful, is complete. At one turn, the poet, locked in a struggle with his own mind, asks Am I Odysseus,/ lost at sea/ for angering the gods? At another, he presents this battered, beautiful advice: Brush away fear and pain/ until only compassion/ and dusty wind remain. These poems balance chaos and calm in a way that shows how vital each is to Pennington’s intensely personal work – and, by extension, to all creative endeavor.
- Steve Brisendine, The Words We Do Not Have (Spartan Press)
“Of course I am your imagination,” He said.
“The imagination is holy and given to you freely…”
There is no shortage of imagination in ’Spacetime Nirvana’ the new poetry collection by Kevin R. Pennington. This collection digs into a cruel, hyper-masculine upbringing to unearth the kind, compassionate adult the poet knows himself to be. The imagery, though often appearing in dreams and meditations, is spotlessly conveyed to the reader making it easy to empathize with what the poet has experienced. Pennington’s emotional self-awareness shines through as he writes plainly about his own struggles with mental illness, a first date with his wife, or having to put a beloved pet to sleep. The weaving of Buddhist lore with jazz scripture and touches of stylized haiku make this a mentally challenging as well as heart wrenching read.
Vin Whitman
True Stories of the Odd Equinox
Crisis and creativity have coexisted in a double helix since our race first found words to give voice to pain and fear. Weave in belief – so often the third cord in a strand of the broken, as both cure for and cause of those feelings – and the thread with which Kevin R. Pennington weaves Spacetime Nirvana, a collection both raw and hopeful, is complete. At one turn, the poet, locked in a struggle with his own mind, asks Am I Odysseus,/ lost at sea/ for angering the gods? At another, he presents this battered, beautiful advice: Brush away fear and pain/ until only compassion/ and dusty wind remain. These poems balance chaos and calm in a way that shows how vital each is to Pennington’s intensely personal work – and, by extension, to all creative endeavor.
- Steve Brisendine, The Words We Do Not Have (Spartan Press)
56 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 26, 2022
I don't usually read poetry but this one worked for me. The collection of poems is not long and many of the poems are short so for a non-poetry person it was great. Kevin R. Pennington was able to take me to familiar places, I grew up and live in Kansas so his imagery brought back memories of my state. I also felt the depth of his pain on losing a beloved pet having experienced such a loss myself and I gained new insight into what it must be like to have a mental illness through his poetry. So, if you don't normally read poetry, this book will be an easy way into the genre that may make you want to read more.
February 12, 2022
This is a very personal book of poetry. Kevin uses poetry to put words to his thoughts and feelings. I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a very good read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews