Christian Poetry in America Since 1940: An Anthology

by Micah Mattix (Editor), Sally Thomas (Editor)

Overview

Winner of the 2023 Christianity Book Award — Culture & The Arts!

"One of the best, and least expected, anthologies in decades.” —Joseph Bottum, Poetry editor, New York Sun

Showcasing thirty-five American poets born in or after 1940, this anthology confirms that one of the most vibrant developments in contemporary verse has been a renewed engagement with the Christian faith. Across a full spectrum of Christian belief, including the struggle to believe at all, these poets bring the power of their art to bear on serious questions: how to understand the goodness of God in a fallen and tragic world, how to reconcile universal truths with the particularities of human experience, how to render familiar events of salvation history in new language that generates its own epiphanies.  As Christian engagement assumes a multiplicity of modes and voices, so does contemporary poetry in America. This volume, then, selective yet representative, features the work of early-, mid-, and late-career poets, formalists, free-verse poets, and experimenters in prosody. This anthology bears witness to the poetic mind as it seeks that which is above.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640608122
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,002,055
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Micah Mattix is the poetry editor at First Things and an associate professor of English at Regent University. His criticism has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, The New Criterion, National Review, Humanities, and many other outlets. Previously he was the literary editor at The American Conservative and a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard. He is currently a senior editor at Spectator World and the author of The Soul Is a Stranger in this World: Essays on Poets and Poetry.

Sally Thomas is the author of a poetry collection, Motherland, a finalist for the 2018 Able Muse Book Award and published by Able Muse Press in 2020. She is also the author of a novel, Works of Mercy, published by Wiseblood Books in 2022. Over the last three decades, her poetry, fiction, reviews, and essays have appeared in such journals as First Things, Plough Quarterly, Public Discourse, and the New Yorker. She serves as Associate Poetry Editor for the New York Sun.

Table of Contents

Introduction 11

Paul Mariani (1940) 23

Quid Pro Quo 24

The Great Wheel 26

Mother of Consolation 27

Holy Saturday 28

What Happened Then 29

Diane Glancy (1941) 30

Doot Dah Do 31

Why Hike God 32

Holy Ghost 33

Jeanne Murray Walker (1944) 34

Light 35

Little Blessing for My Floater 36

Staying Power 37

The Sign 38

In the Beginning Wets the Word 39

The Creation 39

Marilyn Nelson (1946) 40

Churchgoing 41

Incomplete Renunciation 43

For the Feast of Corpus Christi 43

Miracle in the Collection Plate 45

The Temperance Flu 46

Robert B. Shaw (1947) 47

Things We Will Never Know 48

Ash Wednesday, Late Afternoon 49

A Geode 50

Dec. 23 51

Pilgrims 52

Kathleen Norris (1947) 54

Prayer to Eve 55

Little Girls in Church 56

The Sky Is Full of Blue, and Full of the Mind of God 57

Ascension 58

William Baer (1948) 60

Snake 61

Adam 62

Theotokos 62

Ethiopian 63

Jay Parini (1948) 64

At the Ruined Monastery in Amalfi 65

The Grammar of Affection 66

Blessings 67

David Middleton (1949) 68

Man with a Hoe 69

Louisiana Passage: The Whippoorwill 69

The Sunday School Lesson 70

Self-Examination: Reflections in a Mirror 72

Epiphany in Lent 73

Ordinations 74

Dana Gioia (1950) 75

The Burning Ladder 76

Prayer 77

The Litany 77

The Angel with the Broken Wing 79

Prophecy 80

Prayer at Winter Solstice 81

Seven Deadly Sins 81

Maryann Corbett (1950) 83

State Fair Fireworks, Labor Day 83

Holiday Concert 84

Timothy Murphy (1951-2018) 85

Agapé 85

Prayer for Sobriety 86

Hunter's Grace 87

Soul of the North 87

Prayer for Pentecost 87

Open the Way 88

Andrew Hudgins (1951) 90

Raven Days 91

How Shall We Sing the Lords Song in a Strange Land? 92

Praying Drunk 94

Christ as a Gardener 96

Beatitudes 97

Mark Jarman (1952) 98

Questions for Ecclesiastes 99

Unholy Sonnet I 102

Unholy Sonnet II 102

Reminder 103

Hymn 104

Franz Wright (1953-2015) 105

Year One 106

One Heart 106

Baptism 107

The Hawk 107

After Absence 109

Marly Youmans (1953) 110

Transfiguration 110

The Starry Fool 111

Scott Cairns (1954) 112

The More Earnest Prayer of Christ 113

Possible Answers to Prayer 114

Bad Theology: A Quiz 114

Idiot Psalm 2 115

Idiot Psalm 4 116

Dawn at Saint Anna's Skete 117

Clare Rossini (1954) 118

Fra Angelicas "Annunciation" at San Marco 119

Prayer of Sorts 120

A.M. Juster (1956) 121

Japanese Maple in January 122

Three Visitors 122

Bruce Beasley (1958) 123

After an Adoration 124

Consolation 126

Doxology 128

All Saints 129

Marjorie Maddox (1959) 130

How Spiritual Are You? 131

Ash Wednesday 132

Angela Alaimo O'Donnell (1960) 133

To Be a Pilgrim 133

Flannery's Manifesto 134

Julia Spicher Kasdorf (1962) 135

Dying with Amish Uncles 136

Mennonites 137

A Pass 138

The Knowledge of Good and Evil 139

Christian Wiman (1966) 141

After the Diagnosis 142

Lord Is Not a Word 143

Prayer 144

The Preacher Addresses the Seminarians 145

Prologue 147

All My Friends Are Finding New Beliefs 147

Even Bees Know What Zero Is 148

John Poch (1966) 150

Prayer 151

Ignored Woodwork in Old Churches 152

Jennifer Reeser (1968) 153

Nature Does Not Care 154

O Great Spirit 154

Tracy K. Smith (1972) 155

Cathedral Kitsch 157

My God It's Full of Stars 158

The Universe as Primal Scream 162

Wade in the Water 163

The Garden of Eden 164

Tama Runyan (1972) 165

The Fruit of the Spirit 166

The Angel over Patmos 167

Brett Foster (1973-2015) 168

The Garbage Eater 169

At the City Church of San Francisco 170

James Matthew Wilson (1975) 172

Passover 173

Some Will Remember You 174

Shane McCrae (1975) 177

Lord of the Hopeless Also Dear 178

Still When I Picture It the Face of God Is a White Man's Face 179

Benjamin Myers (1975) 180

The Reverend on Natural Theology 181

Field 181

Mark Wagenaar (1979) 183

Goat Hour Gospel (Such Salvage) 184

Abel, Almost Asleep in the Field 186

Ryan Wilson (1982) 187

Xenia 188

In the Harvest Season 189

Chelsea Wagenaar (1989) 190

Advent 191

Scale 192

Acknowledgments 195

Index of Titles 203

Editorial Reviews

"Mattix contributes an erudite introduction exploring the question of what makes Christian poetry in the historical context of Christian literary theory. That, combined with the editors' author discussions, make this anthology an excellent book for classroom use where the requirement for Christian poetry to point mimetically to the transcendent can be fully understood and debated." —National Catholic Reporter

Praise for Christian Poetry in America Since 1940: An Anthology

“This anthology stands out as a constellation of inspired lights, not just for the poets of faith in our time, but for ALL poets and artists for generations to come. They shine as guiding stars toward the rejuvenation of our souls, and a necessary resource to grow our sanctified imagination.” —Makoto Fujimura, artist and author of Art+Faith: A Theology of Making

“Micah Mattix and Sally Thomas have performed a great service, especially for left-brain readers, like me, who often struggle with poetry. The insightful opening essay and thoughtful introductions to each poet lay solid ground for appreciating the poems that follow. And for one who has steeped himself in theology for decades, it's a pleasure to discover poems imbued with the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Christian faith.” —Mark Galli, former editor in chief of Christianity Today, and publisher of the Peripheral Vision newsletter

“All poets can see that in the beginning was the Word. They might even discern that the Word was God. But how do they perceive that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us? For that last step, the addition of faith, makes all the difference. The poets gathered in Christian Poetry in America Since 1940 have all made the leap of faith—and it thickens their verse into one of the best, and least expected, anthologies in decades.” —Joseph Bottum, Poetry editor, New York Sun

"The most comprehensive anthology of modern Christian poetry I have seen, including notable voices from across the various denominations of the Church. If Christians are to know the poetic voice of God, they would do well to train their ears with the verses of these disciples." —Jessica Hooten Wilson, author of The Scandal of Holiness

"It's a great time for this anthology of Christian poetry.  The works and writers assembled here by Micah Mattix and Sally Thomas have assembled here provide just the right mix and quality of technical sharpness, intellectual acuity, and spiritual food that this age of cheap pleasures and lost eloquence needs so much.  From Paul Mariani to Dana Gioia to Christian Wiman and beyond—it's a trove of expression for the mind and the soul.  Teachers: do assign this to your classes.  It contains that for which your students thirst." —Mark Bauerlein, editor at First Things, and author of The Dumbest Generation Grows Up

“Mattix and Thomas have performed true yeoman’s work in collecting this potpourri of poems from a diverse assortment of Christian poets. This slim but substantial volume gives the lie to those who complain that believers in Christ have abandoned the fine arts. There are still many poets out there with their sleeves rolled up, ready to wrestle with temporal and eternal issues.” —Louis Markos, Professor in English and Scholar in Residence, Houston Baptist University; author of The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes

“Keep this book somewhere you can easily find it, because you’ll want to return to it again and again. The poems here will linger with you, and so will the wisdom on how to read them. You won’t see the words ‘Christian poetry’ the same ever again.” —Russell Moore, Chair of Theology, Christianity Today
 
“In his introduction to England’s Antiphon, George MacDonald wrote that he hoped his anthology of English Christian poets might form ‘a chapel in the great church of England's worship.’ In the distinctively American chapel erected by Christian Poetry in America, readers will hear the voices of well-known poets such as Dana Gioia, Tracy K. Smith, and Christian Wiman, but they will also encounter poets such as Benjamin Myers and Chelsea Wagenaar who should be better known. Brief yet perceptive introductions to each poet frame the selections and orient readers to the many facets of Christian practice and poetic art that form this living tradition. By inviting us to step inside America’s vibrant—yet often overlooked—chapel of Christian poetry, Micah Mattix and Sally Thomas have given the church a rich gift. Tolle lege.” —Jeffrey Bilbro, Associate Professor of English at Grove City College and editor-in-chief at Front Porch Republic
 
“I am often asked to recommend poets and poetry collections to readers who don’t know where to begin. I am delighted to have this volume now, one I will recommend again and again.” —Karen Swallow Prior, Research Professor of English and Christianity & Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books
 
“Micah Mattix and Sally Thomas have produced an excellent anthology of American Christian poets. Judicious in their selections and richly informative both in their introduction to the volume and introductions to each poet, they have given lovers of fine poetry a treasure trove of good reading and, as well, a welcome textbook for college classrooms.” —David Lyle Jeffrey, author of Translations: A Collection of Poems and Scripture and the English Poetic Imagination
 
“Good poetry is the distillation of language into its purest form. This is especially true of good Christian verse which is the distillation of mere words into purest spirit. This new anthology is, therefore, a great blessing, offering a joyful spiritual retreat into the presence of the beauty of words and, through them, into the presence of the beauty of the Word Himself.” —Joseph Pearce, The Augustine Institute, editor of Poems Every Catholic Should Know and Poems Every Child Should Know

“If the question is whether the poets in this anthology have a claim on serious readers of poetry, the answer is an engaging yes. One soon finds that these writers are more committed to art than they are possessed by politics. Their beliefs compel them to think as individuals. Their expression of faith is freshly realized, their experience full of discovery. In their moral seriousness, they tap wellsprings of emotion that may prove to be vitalizing for American literature. At their best, they have power to reverse the field’s polarities, and to turn the charge of parochialism against the enforcers of ideological conformity. This is a collection well worth pondering.” —Lee Oser, Professor of English, College of the Holy Cross; Immediate Past President, Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers

“The great twentieth-century poet Richard Wilbur described the work of poets—and perhaps the task of human beings in general—as “bearing witness / To what each morning brings again to light.” Because God’s mysterious ways, along with God’s mercies, are new every morning, the task is ongoing. In Christian Poetry in America since 1940, Micah Mattix and Sally Thomas have made space for a wonderfully diverse cloud of witnesses who have taken up the task. The anthology has several virtues. The selection of poets is broadly representative and inclusive: there is room here for Roman Catholics and Episcopalians, Baptists and Mennonites, room for doubting Thomases and repenting Peters and irritated Jeremiahs, room for those whom hope eludes as well as for those whom joy surprises. And there is room for both formalism and open form poems, for tradition and experiment. The general introduction by Mattix concisely characterizes a history and carries it forward, while the individual introductions provided for each poet nicely focus the strengths of the selections as well as identifying where a reader might go for more by a particular poet. I’ll be recommending the collection to my colleagues and students.” —William Tate, Professor of English and Dean of Arts and Letters, Covenant College

"For the inestimable service of editing this vital and vervy little volume, Mattix and Thomas deserve our boundless gratitude. By introducing this happy freshet into our dessicated world, they water the inextricably intertwining vines of poetry and Christian faith both." —Eric Metaxas, author of Fish Out of Water: A Search for the Meaning of Life
 
“For those wishing to discover (or rediscover) and delight in the best of contemporary Christian poetry, Christian Poetry in America Since 1940 serves as an indispensable guide. With helpful introductions and astute curation, editors Micah Mattix and Sally Thomas have served up a feast that will nourish skeptical students and serious scholars alike.” —Cherie Harder, President of The Trinity Forum
 

"The introduction by Micah Mattix makes a intriguing case for why every lover of poetry, regardless of creed, should be reading Christian poets, then the anthology serves up who you should read and where to start.  There are familiar names here, but also discoveries to be made. For would-be readers (and recommenders) of modern poetry, this book is an unexpected gift, one whose selections induce the strong reactions — often ecstatic, occasionally infuriating — that I, at least, want from verse." —J. Mark Bertrand, author of the Roland March Mysteries

“This anthology accomplishes several valuable tasks. First, it stands as Exhibit A in demonstrating the truth of Mattix’s claim for a renaissance in Christian poetry. Second, given the range of poets, it will likely reacquaint you with some old friends and introduce some new ones. And third, its poems deepen our sense of the Christian life. ‘O taste and see’ the psalmist implores, and good poems help us do that. Drawing on the resources of poetry, these fellow pilgrims help us taste and see the Christian life in new ways as we share their struggles for and with and in faith.” —Eric Potter, The Front Porch Republic
 
 

 
 

From the Publisher