Adam Day is an

American poet The poets listed below were either born in the United States or else published much of their poetry while living in that country. A B C D E F G H I–J K L M N O P Q *George Quasha (born 1942 in poetry, 1942) R ...

and critic. He is the author of ''The Strategic Crescent'' ( Broadstone Books, 2025), ''Illuminated Edges'' ( Kelsay Books, 2024), ''Left-Handed Wolf'' (

Louisiana State University Press The Louisiana State University Press (LSU Press) is a university press at Louisiana State University. Founded in 1935, it publishes works of scholarship as well as general interest books. LSU Press is a member of the Association of University Pres ...

, 2020), ''Model of a City in Civil War'' (

Sarabande Books Sarabande Books is an American not-for-profit literary press founded in 1994. It is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with an office in New York City. Sarabande publishes contemporary poetry and nonfiction. Sarabande is a literary press whos ...

, 2015), and one chapbook of poetry, ''Badger, Apocrypha'' (

Poetry Society of America Poetry (from the Greek word '' poiesis'', "making") is a form of literary art that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, literal or surface-level meanings. Any partic ...

, 2011).

Life and work

Day was born and raised primarily in Louisville's working class south end. He graduated from

Eckerd College Eckerd College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958, part of the campus is waterfront (area), waterfront and beach on Boca Ciega ...

(2001), and from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

(2004) with an MFA in creative writing. Day publishes
Action, Spectacle
', an online and print journal of art and culture, which is guest-edited by a changing lineup of writers and artists. He also publishes ''Action, Spectacle Press'', which publishes chapbooks of prose and of poetry, and full-length books of poetry. He has taught English and creative writing at Earlham College,

, Bellarmine University, the

University of Houston The University of Houston (; ) is a Public university, public research university in Houston, Texas, United States. It was established in 1927 as Houston Junior College, a coeducational institution and one of multiple junior colleges formed in ...

, the University of Kentucky, and elsewhere. In 2011, Day was selected by

David Lehman David Lehman (born June 11, 1948) is an American poet, non-fiction writer, and literary critic, and the founder and series editor for '' The Best American Poetry''. He was a writer and freelance journalist for fifteen years, writing for such pub ...

for the PEN Emerging Writers Award. Lehman wrote, "Day is unafraid to conjoin historical and fictional personages for effects that startle and provoke, as in ''Combine'', in which

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...

Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, an ...

, Queen Anne, and

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the three ...

are among the cast of characters. Impressive, too, is the poem in which Day juxtaposes excerpts 'From an Interview with

Kenzaburō Ōe was a Japanese writer and a major figure in contemporary Japanese literature. His novels, short stories and essays, strongly influenced by French and American literature and literary theory, deal with political, social and philosophical issue ...

, with Stage Directions from Synge's ''

Riders to the Sea ''Riders to the Sea'' is a play written by Irish Literary Renaissance playwright John Millington Synge. It was first performed on 25 February 1904 at the Molesworth Hall, Dublin, by the Irish National Theater Society with Helen Laird playing Mau ...

''.' This poet's technical prowess, adventurousness, and wide-ranging curiosity give pleasure now and the promise of a great deal more to come."

Honors and awards

* Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council * PEN Emerging Writers Award * Poetry Society of America Chapbook Fellowship for ''Badger, Apocrypha''

Collections of poetry

* ''The Strategic Crescent'' ( Broadstone Books, 2025), * ''Illuminated Edges'' ( Kelsay Books, 2024), * ''Left-Handed Wolf'' (

, 2020), * ''Model of a City in Civil War''. (

, 2015), * ''Badger, Apocrypha''. (

, 2010).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Adam Poets from Kentucky Living people New York University alumni Writers from Louisville, Kentucky 1977 births 21st-century American poets Eckerd College alumni