Poet John Kenney Takes On The Less-Than-Glamorous Aspects Of Parenthood

By Mark Brodie
Published: Monday, February 17, 2020 - 3:33pm
Updated: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 8:54am

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John Kenney Love Poems (For People with Children)
G.G. Putnam's Sons, Rick Kneif
John Kenney and his book, "Love Poems (for People with Children)."

Most parents who’ve had to count to three to try to get their kid to do something have probably wondered: What do I do if I get to three, and I don’t get cooperation?

Well, John Kenney has had that same thought and wrote about it in a poem called, aptly enough, "I Am Going to Count to Three."

Kenny’s new book, "Love Poems (for People with Children)," is full of titles parents — and even people without kids — can probably relate to: "Who Will be the First to Get Up," "I am Fully Aware that the Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round," and "An Attempt at a Summation of a Five-Year Old’s Monologue" to name a few.

Kenney himself has a son and a daughter. The Show spoke with him and asked how many of the poems in this book are based on his own experiences as a parent versus those of family and friends.

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