Vita Poetica Journal

Rebekah Vickery guides us in a short meditation to consider how our bellies, our gut, has held the truth of our experiences. " A Blessing for Your Belly " is published in our Autumn 2023 issue. Rebekah Vickery is a trauma therapist, group facilitator, and acrylic artist located in the beautiful and wild Pacific Northwest. In all of her work with people, art, and words, she loves engaging...

Stephen M. Sanders reads his poems " Autumn in Paris, Texas "; " Tennessee Camp Meeting, 1982 "; and " A Vagrant ." Stephen M. Sanders is an assistant professor of English at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. He has had poems included in publications including Pacifica Literary Review, Penumbra Literary & Art Magazine, and the Austin International Poetry F...

Maura H. Harrison shares about her photographs, " Reverent Marvels ," inspired by Julian of Norwich's belief that “one should reverently marvel and humbly endure, ever delighting in God.” And Erica Waters reads her poem, " Gardens of Earth ." Maura H. Harrison is a writer, photographer, and fiber artist from Fredericksburg, VA. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative W...

Joel Peckham reads his poems, " How to Walk in Space: Untethering " and " How to Walk in Space: 3:35AM Dec 9, 2022 ." Joel Peckham has published nine collections of poetry and nonfiction, including Bone Music (SFA) and Body Memory (New Rivers), and is co-editor of the anthology Wild Gods: The Ecstatic in American Poetry and Prose . Individual poems and essays have appeared in P...

Edward A. Dougherty reads his poem, " Between Slaughter and Exile ," and Michelle J. Chun shares her artwork, "Annunciation" and "Relics of Annunciation." Edward A. Dougherty has lived and worked in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York for nearly 30 years. He is the author of 11 collections of poetry, including Grace Street and 10048 . Vita Poetica's Interv...

Maxim D. Shrayer reads his poems, " Yom Kippur in Boston " & "Grapes of Sukkot ." Maxim D. Shrayer is a bilingual writer in English and Russian and a professor at Boston College. His books include four collections of Russian-language poetry and a collection of English-language verse, Of Politics and Pandemics . Shrayer's new memoir, Immigrant Baggage , was published in...

Sarah Renee Werner offers a meditation and reflection on the seasonal changes we experience around us. Her piece, "Breathe" is published in our current Autumn issue. Sarah Werner is the communications coordinator for Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA and pastor of Olentangy Wild Church in Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of Rooted Faith: Practices for Living Well on a...

Contemplative Practices Editor Samir Knego introduces a new feature coming up in future issues. We want to hear from you, Vita Poetica readers, about the spiritual practices that sustain and inspire you. This is also a place for your questions and concerns about the world and a chance to find new practices to incorporate into your spiritual life. Email your responses to samir@vitapoetica.org by De...

Angela Townsend reads her literary essay, " Less and More ," from our Autumn 2023 issue. Angela Townsend is Development Director at Tabby’s Place: A Cat Sanctuary, where she has the privilege of bearing witness to mercy for all beings. Angie has an M.Div. from Princeton Seminary and B.A. from Vassar, and her work appears in Amethyst Review, Dappled Things, Fathom Magazine, Hawaii Pacific...

The Autumn 2023 issue of the journal is out! Tune in for a preview of new works at the intersection of art, faith, beauty, and spirit. Cover Art: Maura H. Harrison Intro Music: "A Gentle Invitation" by Dawn, Dawn, Dawn Outro Music: John Morris

Rebekah Vickery guides us in " A Blessing for Your Breath ," from our Summer 2023 issue. Rebekah Vickery is a trauma therapist, group facilitator, and acrylic artist located in the beautiful and wild Pacific Northwest. In all of her work with people, art, and words, she loves engaging themes of grief, transition, and hope.

Interviews Editor Emily Chambers Sharpe talks with visual artist Scott Aasman on art as attention, presence, and prayer. Some of his artwork can be seen on our website here . This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Scott Aasman is an illustrator, artist, community builder, part-time chicken farmer, and zine maker. As a student of both art and theology at Redeemer University, Scott f...

Phillip Aijian reads his poems, " Jurisdiction ," " Why Do You Ask My Name? " and " The Old Road to Garry ." Phillip Aijian holds a PhD in Renaissance drama and theology from UC Irvine, as well as an MA in poetry from the University of Missouri. He teaches literature and religious studies and has published in journals like ZYZZYVA, Heron Tree, Poor Yorick, and Zocalo...

Our Contemplative Practices Editor Samir Knego leads us in a creative meditation on Psalm 148 , published in our Summer 2023 issue. Text for the psalm can be found here (various translations available). Contemplative Practices Editor Samir Knego spends his days photographing archival materials and thinking about the past. His essays, poems, and visual art have appeared all over the place, includin...

Joseph Byrd reads his poem, " Prayer for a Prisoner ," and Lucy Bell introduces her art, " The Mythology of Memory ," featured in our Summer 2023 issue. Joseph Byrd’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in Punt Volat, Pedestal, South Florida Poetry Journal, DIAGRAM, Clackamas Literary Review, Many Nice Donkeys, and Novus Literary Arts . He’s a Pushcart Prize nominee, was long-l...

Mary Amendolia Gardener reads her review, " Spirit in the Dark Brings Religious Influence to Light ," a review of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture's exhibit, Spirit in the Dark: Religion in Black Music, Activism and Popular Culture . The exhibit is on view through November 2023. A companion searchable digital exhibit is also available through th...

Rachelle Scott reads her poem, " Alternate Sources of Light ," and Paul Hostovsky reads his poem, " Open ." Rachelle Scott is writer, teacher, and editor from central Texas. Her work appears in The Lyric, Adanna, Third Wednesday, Apeiron Review, The Wayfarer, Literary Juice, Anima, Panther City Review, Her Texas, Shot Glass Journal, Red Rock Review, Crack the Spine, r.cv.r.y, R...

Cheryl Sadowski reads her review, " To See Beyond Walls : A Review of Illuminations:   A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt. Stay tuned for details about our Zoom book discussion about Illuminations led by Cheryl this fall! Subscribe to our email newsletter or follow along on FB or IG to get event announcements and more. Cheryl Sadowski writes essays, reviews, and short fiction. H...

Jack Stewart reads his poem " Acyanoblepsia " from our Summer 2023 issue. Jack Stewart was educated at the University of Alabama and Emory University and was a Brittain Fellow at The Georgia Institute of Technology. His first book, No Reason , was published by the Poeima Poetry Series, and his work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Poetry, The American Literary...

James Roderick Burns reads his short story, " Scotus ." James Roderick Burns’s novella and story collection, Beastly Transparencies, is due from Black Spring Press in 2024. He is the author of five collections of poetry (most recently Crows at Dusk, 2023) and a short fiction chapbook, A Bunch of Fives. His stories have twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He can be found on Twitt...

Hannah Hinsch reads her poems "Miryam" and "Eve." Hannah Hinsch writes to be with God. A current MFA candidate, her poetry and prose begins at the meeting place of word and being, the image and its attendant charge, a risen heat that sends a word in time and place and body, whether on the salt-soaked shores of Gig Harbor or the monsoon-warm of Santa Fe - and the grace to see Go...

Emily Ver Steeg reads her short story, " Shelter ," from our Summer 2023 issue. Emily Ver Steeg grew up outside Atlanta, GA, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY, where she teaches writing for immigrant and international students. She received her MFA from The Writer's Foundry at St. Joseph's University.

The Summer 2023 issue of Vita Poetica is here! Tune in for a preview of new works at the intersection of art, faith, and spirit. Cover Art: Untitled (flame 1) by Lucy Bell Intro Music: "A Gentle Invitation" by Dawn, Dawn, Dawn Outro Music: John Morris

Ellen June Wright reads her poem, " The Lake ," and David A. Goodrum shares about his photography published in our Spring 2023 issue . Ellen June Wright consulted on guides for three PBS poetry series. Her work was selected as  The Missouri Review ’s Poem of the Week in June 2021. She is a Cave Canem and Hurston/Wright alumna and received Pushcart Prize nominations in 2021 and 2022. Foll...

Zachary Dankert reads his poems " Matthew 2:13-23 (Olives) " and " The Gospel of Mary Magdalene II ." ⁠ Zachary Dankert is a writer living on unceded Miami territory known as Indianapolis, IN. Published work can be found in Breakbread Literary Magazine, Tofu Ink Arts Press, and West Trade Review, among others. His goal in life is to write a single funny poem.