• Home
  • Fine Living
    • Start Here—Welcome to Tweetspeak!
    • Read
      • A Poem a Day with Every Day Poems
      • book club
      • Poetry Newsletter!
      • poetry reviews
      • T. S. Poetry Press
      • Quote a Day
    • Write
      • A Book of Beginnings
      • Become a Better Writer
      • Fiction Posts & Prompts
      • Memoir Notebook
      • Poets and Writers Toolkit
      • Writer’s Conferences
      • Writing Prompts
    • Live
      • Art and Disabilities
      • Artist Date
      • Eating and Drinking Poems
      • Journey into Poetry
      • Literary Tour
      • Poem on Your Pillow Day
      • Poetry at Work Day
      • Random Acts of Poetry Day
      • Take Your Poet to Work Day
    • Play
      • Coloring Page Poems
      • Mischief Café
      • Music Playlists
      • poetry humor
      • Quote a Day
      • Shop
      • Twitter Poetry Parties
      • Videos
    • Learn
      • Infographics
      • Poetry Classroom
      • Poetry Units for Teachers
      • Writer’s Conferences
      • Writing Workshops
    • Grow
  • Poets & Poems
  • Writers’ Resources
  • Get a Daily Poem
  • Teaching Tools
  • The Press
  • Workshops

Poets and Poems: Nicholas Samaras’ “American Psalm World Psalm”

By Glynn Young 8 Comments

Poets have long been interested in the biblical psalms, and with good reason. The psalms are written in poetic form and read like poetry even in translation. They cover the range of human emotions, from happiness and gratitude all the way to depression. The psalms also seem to be voiced by real people, people with questions, fears, demands, courage and cowardice. And the psalms are also set in a historical context, many of them dealing with the place of the psalmist in society and the place of the psalmist before God.

Two decades have passed since poet Nicholas Samaras published Hands of the Saddlemaker (reviewed here at Tweetspeak in 2011). He’s continued to publish poems and articles in literary publications, edited books, and contributed to anthologies. Now he has brought together 150 poems in a volume entitled American Psalm, World Psalm.

One hundred and fifty poems. One hundred and fifty psalms. It’s a big collection, an ambitious collection, a statement on history, private life, faith and religion, and American and world culture, and how the individual maneuvers through all of it. Each poem is in the form of a psalm; each poem, in fact, has a title and a “numbered psalm” designation.

One example of how Samaras fuses all of these themes is the psalm numbered 35:

American Psalm World PsalmPsalm of the Modern Psalm

Lord, I want no cursing from the ancient psalms.
I don’t pray for any child to have to pay
a bad price for bad parents.

I don’t wish for any sins of the fathers
to be visited upon their generations. Let the innocent
bear only the reward of their innocence.

Instead, I petition only that all offenders
be reminded of their sins every hour.
Let the selfish be haunted by their ways.

Let their eye-sockets grow dark and hollow.
The absence of the Lord’s presence is a far worse
punishment than anything accomplished by smiting.

I don’t focus on a God of vengeance.
I don’t want revenge on my enemies—
no broken teeth, no gnashing of physical pain.

I wish the death of no one. I wish the harm of no one,
but that the Lord lead the wicked
only to repentance and a changed heart.

The gutter of their own lives is punishment alright.
But only let them realize this.
Let them inherit a living death called insight.

In this one poem is the recognition of some of the realities of modern life and culture, the understanding of how consequences can be passed through generations, the individual seeking to shrink back from these consequences and find a more acceptable alternative, the modern understanding and definition of self-awareness, and all within a context of faith and belief.

In these poems, the poet addresses his relationship to God and belief; prayer, the human heart; the desire for solitude (the 138th psalm refers to the “tilling of the soul”); seeking to understanding some of the horrors of modern life; the meaning of America (the 119th psalm is the longest in the collection and is above everything that is, and isn’t, America); nature; and a series of poems in grace, benediction, singing, invocation, and more.

And there are psalms about Samaras’s father, Kallistos Samaras, a bishop in the Greek Orthodox Church. He expresses no angst, no broken relationship here, but instead a depth of love and gratitude for what his father has done for him: “I remember to thank the Lord for my father. / Because a good father’s soul is the love of God.” The poem is as refreshing as it is beautiful.

These psalms are meditative poems, poems than in many cases could be spoken as prayers. In all cases they are poems that speak to the human heart.

Image by Kevin Dooley. Sourced via Flickr. Post by Glynn Young, author of the novels Dancing Priest and A Light Shining, and the just-published Poetry at Work (T. S. Poetry Press).

Browse more poets and poems.

__________________

Every Day Poems Driftwood

Want to brighten your morning coffee?

Subscribe to Every Day Poems and find some beauty in your inbox.

You Might Also Like

  • child poems and poetsPoets and Poems: 99 Psalms by SAID
  • Poets and Poems: Jeremiah Webster and “After So Many Fires”Poets and Poems: Jeremiah Webster and “After So Many Fires”
  • Scott Cairns "Idiot Poems"Poets and Poems: Scott Cairns’ “Idiot Psalms”
  • Poets and Poems: Jennifer Wallace and “Almost Entirely”Poets and Poems: Jennifer Wallace and “Almost Entirely”

Filed Under: book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets, Spiritual Poems

P. S., With Love

We hope we made your day
with something you loved or needed.

Make our day? 🙂

Keep thoughtfulness, beauty, & whimsy
in your world (and the world)
with just $1 a month

Comments

  1. Martha Orlando says

    March 18, 2014 at 8:18 am

    This sounds like a fantastic collection and one I would truly love to read. Thanks, Glynn!

    Reply
  2. Maureen Doallas says

    March 18, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Fine review, Glynn.

    Reply
  3. SimplyDarlene says

    March 18, 2014 at 10:30 am

    How interesting and beautiful, all at once.

    By the way, ever since I read Claire’s book and your newest release, sir Glynn, I’ve been summarizing my morning Bible study times by way of the haiku. It’s been quite a journey to fill an otherwise studious-laden journal with poetical recaps. Insightful and precise.

    As always, thank you for your reviews.

    Blessings.

    Reply
  4. Mary Sayler says

    March 18, 2014 at 10:38 am

    As a Christian poet, I’ve been especially interested in Psalms – the prayer book,song book, and book of poetry read by Jesus and the early church. Other members of our Christian Poets & Writers group on Facebook will surely be interested in your post too, Glynn, so I’ll highlight it on the Christian Poets & Writers blog – http://christianpoetsandwriters.blogspot.com . Thanks and blessings.

    Reply
  5. Linda says

    March 18, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    This is a wonderful review Glynn. During the darkest season of my life the Psalms were like a life-line for me. I couldn’t pray, but I could read the Psalms.
    It sounds like a unique book.

    Reply
  6. nance.mdr says

    March 18, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    the world
    needs psalm
    the world
    needs calm
    words
    for the soul
    to sing

    Reply
    • Katie says

      August 29, 2017 at 4:16 pm

      Yes, yes, yes:)
      Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Just My Eyes says:
    July 24, 2014 at 10:47 am

    […] CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO Glynn Young’s review of American Psalm, World Psalm in Tweetspeak. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Take How to Read a Poem

Get the Introduction, the Billy Collins poem, and Chapter 1

Free with tweet

Search Tweetspeak

Follow Tweetspeak Poetry

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Getting added to our newsletter is your first perk, when you join us on Patreon!

Welcome to Tweetspeak

New to Tweetspeak Poetry? Start here, in The Mischief Café.

You’re a regular? Check out our April Menu.

Recent Comments

  • L.L. Barkat on Poets and Poems: Darren Demaree and “Two Towns Over”
  • Bethany R. on “H is for Haiku,” An Invitation to Small Joys
  • Donna on “H is for Haiku,” An Invitation to Small Joys
  • Donna on “H is for Haiku,” An Invitation to Small Joys

Featured In

We're happy to have been featured in...

The New York Observer

The Huffington Post

The Paris Review

Tumblr Book News

Categories

Poetry for Life? Here's our manifesto on the matter...

Poetry for Life: The 5 Vital Approaches

Help make it happen. Post The 5 Vital Approaches on your site!

Learn to Write Form Poems

Whether or not you end up enjoying the form poem, we've seen the value of building your skills through writing in form.

One reader who explored the villanelle was even featured in Every Day Poems!

How to Write an Acrostic

How to Write a Ballad

How to Write a Catalog Poem

How to Write a Ghazal

How to Write a Haiku

How to Write an Ode

How to Write a Pantoum

How to Write a Rondeau

How to Write a Sestina

How to Write a Sonnet

How to Write a Villanelle

Featured Literary Analysis

Poem Analysis: Anne Sexton's Her Kind

Poem Analysis: Adrienne Rich's Diving into the Wreck

Poem Analysis: Matthew Arnold's Dover Beach

Character Analysis: Romeo and Juliet

Order and Disorder in Macbeth

Tone in For Whom the Bell Tolls and Catch-22

Tragedy and Comedy: Why People Love Them

Was Hamlet Sane or Insane?

Shakespeare Resources

Poetry Classroom: Sonnet 18

Common Core Picture Poems: Sonnet 73

Sonnet 104 Annotated

Sonnet 116 Annotated

Character Analysis: Romeo and Juliet

Character Analysis: Was Hamlet Sane or Insane?

Why Does Hamlet Wait to Kill the King?

10 Fun Shakespeare Resources

About Shakespeare: Poet and Playwright

Top 10 Shakespeare Sonnets

Book Promotion, Platform, Publicity

Author Platform: Where to Start

Ten Surprising Secrets to Make Your Book Go Viral

How to Host a Successful Book Launch

Simple Tips on Finding and Working with a Book Publicist

How to Get Your Poems Published!

Pride and Prejudice Resources

5 Amusing Pride and Prejudice Quotes

Infographic: Simpleton's Guide to Pride and Prejudice

10 Great Pride and Prejudice Resources

Happy Birthday Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Playlist

Featured Top 10 Poems

Top 10 Chicken Poems

Top 10 Chocolate Poems (Okay, Minus 3)

Top 10 Fairy Tale Poems

Top 10 Funny Poems

Top 10 Laundry Poems

10 of the Best Love Poems

Top 10 Poems with Make or Break Titles

Top 10 Mirror Poems

Top 10 Question Poems

Top 10 Red Poems

Top 10 Rose Poems

Top 10 Summer Poems

10 Great Poems About Work

Children’s Poems, Children’s Books

Llamas in Pajamas and Ten Great Children's Poetry Books

A Children's Poem on the Playground

Come Again: Teaching Poetry to Children

Poetry With Children: What's in Your Journal

Teaching Poetry to Children: There Are So Many Blues

Take Your Poet to Work Day: Poet Treasure Hunt in the Library (Callie's Story)

6 Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Children

Top 10 Children's Books and YA Books

Little Red Riding Hood: Graphic Novel

14 Reasons Peter Rabbit Should Be Banned (Satire)

Featured Infographics

Infographic: How to Write an Acrostic Poem

Infographic: How to Write a Ballad

Infographic: How to Write an Epic Poem

Infographic: Ghazal for a Gazelle

Infographic: Boost Your Haiku High Q

Infographic: Pantoum of the Opera

Infographic: How to Write an Ode

Infographic: Poem a Day

Infographic: How to Write a Rondeau

Infographic: Simpleton's Guide to Pride and Prejudice

Sonnet Infographic: Quatrain Wreck

Featured Playlists

Playlist: Cat's Meow

Playlist: Doors and Passageways

Playlist: Fairy Tale and Fantasy

Playlist: Purple Rain and Indigo Blues

Playlist: Surrealism

Playlist: Best Tattoo Songs

Playlist: Trains and Tracks

All the Playlists

They Bring Poetry for Life

Meet our wonderful partners, who bring "poetry for life" to students, teachers, librarians, businesses, employees—to all sorts of people, across the world.

How to Read at an Open Mic free download

How to Read at an Open Mic!

Free Sample!

The Teacher Diaires Front Cover with Lauren Winner

“Hilarious, heart-rending, entertaining.”

—KA, Amazon reviewer

GET FREE SAMPLE NOW

About Us

  • Our Story
  • Meet Our Team
  • Poetry for Life: The 5 Vital Approaches
  • Contact Us

Writing With Us

  • Poetry Prompts
  • Submissions
  • Writing Workshops

Reading With Us

  • Book Club
  • Dip Into Poetry
  • Every Day Poems
  • Literacy Extras
  • Quote a Day

Public Days for Poetry

  • Poem on Your Pillow Day
  • Poet in a Cupcake Day
  • Poetry at Work Day
  • Random Acts of Poetry Day
  • Take Your Poet to School Week—National Poetry Month!
  • Take Your Poet to Work Day

Gift Ideas

  • Give the Gift of Every Day Poems
  • Our Shop
  • Everybody Loves a Book!

Connect

  • Blog Buttons
  • Become a Partner
  • Shop for Tweetspeak Fun Stuff

Copyright © 2018 Tweetspeak Poetry · Site by The Willingham Enterprise · FAQ & Disclosure