In anticipation of the Festival of Faith & Writing in Grand Rapids, Antler has asked me to select something from one of this year’s presenters, for reflection. I have chosen Luci Shaw’s poem “Under the snowing” which appeared in her book Water Lines (Eerdmans). It clearly demonstrates the world view that comes through in her poetry.

In order to be a poet, it makes sense that you trust what you see and hear as being real and meaningful; why else would you take trouble to bring it to a reader’s attention?
As you reflect on all you encounter, you begin to see these things as receptacles of truth – and that what you observe sheds light on the fabric of the universe.

If the world is meaningful, it must not have just formed of its own accord. Such a view has … Read More »

In the coming weeks, we’ll have some fantastic interviews and posts by some wonderful authors, including Maurice Manning, Susanna Childress, Tania Runyan, D.S. Martin, Brianna Van Dyke, and John Leax, so be sure to get plugged in with our media by clicking the icons for Facebook, Twitter, and RSS at the top and bottom of this page. But before things get away from me, I wanted to share this poem to make sure that people who visit this site in the coming weeks know where our name comes from.

This poem is my absolute favorite, by my most favorite author.

I hope you’ll take a couple moments to read and think about the poem’s charge—what implications does it hold for you? Share below, if you be so bold…

William Stafford’s “A Message from the Wanderer”

tell us a little bit about yourself, your writing, and your life…

First, I express my gratitude and happiness for talking with you and your audience. For me, this is exactly what my writing and what all writing is about: to engage in a dialogue. It is the entire reason I write: to have a dialogue with the world, to “commune” with the world. This is what I bring to my experience of the page: the interaction between my heart and soul and anyone who reads my text, in return.

I have stated in numerous poems of mine that “I write for the world.” This is because my upbringing took place literally all over the world. My background is from the Island of Patmos, Greece (the Island of the Apocalypse). I was born and raised in the village of Foxton, eight miles … Read More »

Poet George Oppen wrote in his journals that “the search for truth is a passion, not a necessity.” He’s right. You can go through your life with your eyes completely open and never really see anything clearly. And one needs only to look around at the hollowness of the cultures around us, both secular and Christian, to know this can be true. Christianity can be made simple, boiled down to practices and platitudes, marketed and packaged for sale, and fall flat with some sentimental longing for some other plane of living rather than the reality in which God has asked us to exist, the reality that he loves so dearly. But the Kingdom of Heaven is nothing simplistic: things like the Incarnation and Resurrection can never be made easy. That’s mystery, and searching mystery is how we grow and bring … Read More »

Here at Antler, we’re working with the Festival of Faith and Writing in the coming weeks to blog, promote, and create a space for discussion about this year’s poetry guests. I’m really excited for another opportunity to see Lee read again at the Festival (his last appearance was back in 2004, I believe) and I’m excited to say that Antler will be at the Festival running an event with Ruminate Magazine  and working a booth, so be sure to come by and give us a shout.

Li-Young Lee is an award-winning poet whose honors include a Lannan Literary Award, an American Book Award, and a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship. He has written several poetry collections, including Book of My Nights, The City in Which I Love You, Rose, and, most recently, Behind My Eyes. He is also the author of a memoir, … Read More »

Every day since I started paying attention to my life–started intentionally contemplating, writing, thinking–I have been offered a small scrap of silence each day. Often it comes when I’m intentionally seeking it, but sometimes it sneaks up on me. I’ll be going about my business in all the usual noisy places–work, home (especially after my kids have gotten out of bed!), driving, wherever–and a noiselessness emerges out of the barrage or monotonous background: a few seconds of complete stillness.

These polished quiets are a haven for me–a tiny seclusion from all the flickering busyness.

The trick is allowing myself to experience them–I’ve been so focused on my tasks for the day that I’ve worked through the moment or I’ve been so startled by them that I push them away. For me, these flashes of peace are a foil to what’s always happening, a … Read More »

One of the best darn lit mags around is Ruminate Magazine. They make a great visually stunning product with high-quality, accessible, and engaging literature. And here at Antler, we’re really excited about our collaborations with them, which we hope will be many!

This year at the Festival of Faith and Writing, we’ll be teaming up with Ruminate to present an excellent lunch event called “Cultivating Play and Mystery: A Discussion and Time of Practice with Scott Cairns, Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, and Walter Wangerin, Jr.”

During Saturday’s hour-long session, our panelists will discuss elements craft and vocation, some ideas on best writing practices, and how those practices help writers of all kinds enter the playful holiness and mystery of God.

We’ll also have time together for quiet and writing. So, if you’ll be attending this year’s F&W Festival, please come, reflect, and … Read More »

in april, we’ll be at the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids, MI

we’ll have a booth, so be sure to stop by and say hello, pick up some free swag, and find out how to get involved.

also, we’re planning a killer event with Ruminate Magazine where folks can come, her from some stellar authors, pick up some practical tools, and practice a little bit of what’s been being preached.

hope to see you saturday’s lunch session!