Eric Greinke
Perfectbound paperback, ISBN:  978-0-9831251-1-2, 88 pgs., $11.95

The Potential of Poetry collects seven recent essays by critically-acclaimed poet Eric Greinke that assert the value of poetry in human progress. These essays have been selected and reprinted from pieces that were originally published by a variety of literary magazines such as The Home Planet News, The Small Press Review and The Grand Valley Review. Greinke examines our basic assumptions about poetics, social stratification in the literary world, accessibility and related issues with unique insight and humor. Greinke’s prose, like his poetry, ranges from the philosophical to the satiric. (i.e. In Toward A New Eclecticism, he makes an impassioned case for tolerance, diversity and self-criticism. In Explication of Life, he gives us a four page tongue-in-cheek explication of a five-word poem entitled Life.) Thought-provoking yet entertaining, this book is a small package that contains numerous big ideas. Taken together, these essays build a strong case for poetic freedom and eclecticism.

“The Potential of Poetry by Eric Greinke is one of those books that you know is important, even if you’re not sure why. ‘Good things come in small packages,’ as the old saying goes.”                                                   – Jim Barnes, Independent Publisher, Jenkins Group

“The Potential of Poetry is a collection of essays from Eric Greinke, which discuss the role and purpose of poetry in today’s world as an art form and in the world as a whole. Simple and profound work with plenty to muse on literature and art in general, The Potential of Poetry is a choice addition to literary studies collections.”                                         -James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review
“The Potential of Poetry is a short book of seven essays about poetic practice… This is an enjoyable and insightful overview of the poetry scene that is well worth reading.”                                                             -Arnold Skemer, The Small Press Review

“This is Greinke at his best, advocating at the cutting edge of human growth in consciousness and love, and doing it with poetry.”                                                                                                -Ann Wehrman, Poetry Now

Now available in ebook