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Home - Guilty Prayer by Steve Henn: A Profound Exploration of Poetry Through the Lens of Addiction
#QUITLIT

Guilty Prayer by Steve Henn: A Profound Exploration of Poetry Through the Lens of Addiction

Alysse BrysonBy Alysse BrysonAugust 6, 20233 Mins Read
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Guilty Prayer, a collection of poems by Steve Henn, may be short in length, with only 40 pages, but its message is anything but small. Initially apprehensive when approached to review this book due to my limited knowledge of poetry, I was captivated by Henn’s writing and deeply moved by the themes he delved into.

The poems within Guilty Prayer are imbued with raw emotion, skillfully expressing pain, religious introspection, suicide, and the gripping clutches of addiction. Carrying the book everywhere in my MTV sequined handbag, I began to follow Henn on Instagram (@indiana_sad_man), intrigued by the insights he shared.

Grief & Loss

One recurring theme that struck me profoundly was the exploration of grief and loss. Coincidentally, shortly after receiving the book, I found myself attending several funerals. The correlation was not lost on me, and I came to realize that in sobriety, we often encounter life’s harsh realities head-on, leading to a greater understanding of loss.

Hann’s contemplations on our collective obsession with mindless internet humor and using humor as a defense mechanism to cope with life’s challenges resonated deeply with me during this period of grief. His words made me feel understood and normalized the emotions I was experiencing.

In conclusion, Guilty Prayer is a powerful and poignant collection of poems that dives fearlessly into the depths of human emotion, addiction, and spirituality. Steve Henn’s ability to convey complex emotions through his writing is commendable, making this book a thought-provoking and enriching read for anyone seeking to explore poetry through the eyes of addiction.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT HIS BOOKS

About Steve Henn

Steve Henn teaches high school English in northern Indiana. His previous books include Guilty Prayer (Main Street Rag, 2021) and Indiana Noble Sad Man of the Year (Wolfson, 2017). He’s proud of the children of himself and the late American artist Lydia Henn. He roots for the Fighting Irish, played high school soccer, and gives poetry readings in all kinds of places, from Pittsburgh to Milwaukee to Long Beach, travel conditions and money conditions and time permitting. His most recent collection is the chapbook American Male from Main Street Rag (2022). His favorite food is crab cakes, which are also a unit of value measurement for anything in the world (this website = 37 crab cakes).


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SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! at The Sober Curator is a celebration of authentic voices in recovery—echoing Madonna’s call to “Express yourself!” Here, readers and contributors take the spotlight, sharing transformative sobriety journeys, creative talents, and new avenues of self-expression discovered along the way. Through videos, poems, art, essays, opinion pieces, and music, we break the silence that often surrounds addiction, replacing it with connection, hope, and inspiration.

Your story matters—and we want to hear it. Submit your work to thesobercurator@gmail.com or DM us on social media.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in the Speak Out! Speak Loud! Section are solely the opinions of the contributing author of each individual published article and do not reflect the views of The Sober Curator, their respective affiliates, or the companies with which The Sober Curator is affiliated.

The Speak Out! Speak Loud! posts are based upon information the contributing author considers reliable. Still, neither The Sober Curator nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.


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#QUITLIT: This is our curated list of addiction and recovery book reviews. All Sober Curators should be well-read, from addiction and recovery memoirs to fiction and self-help. You can also find us on Goodreads here. 

What’s on your nightstand? We want to hear about what you’re reading and the addiction and recovery books you can’t live without. Please email us at thesobercurator@gmail.com

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Alysse Bryson
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Alysse Bryson is a strong woman in recovery, an innovative media maven, marketing guru, and gal about town. "I'm just a laid-back old school Seattlite...with sober superpowers. You can take the girl out of the party, but you can't take the party out of the girl."

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