Authors /
Muriel Nelson
Muriel Nelson’s most recent publication is Please Hold, which won Encircle Publications’ poetry chapbook award.
Easy (Does It?)
Gifts for the gods my PT calls the lifts my shoulders won’t do while our honeysuckle grows buds and does it, pink hands full of honey—See!...
Two translations face to face
It’s late night, but the room is bright, lit
where a painter works with his back to a window,
its dark panes held by a white wooden cross....
Silent night
With wise men, a mom, countless sheep,
and infinite nights of stars,
songs like bushtits swirl off in old leaves,
a twittering lost afar....
Instead—musings on Psalm 42
If Herbert Howells hadn’t held a tune
in his ear as bombs kept falling on London,
if he hadn’t argued with himself—like...
Axis mundi, tree at the center of the universe
My writing lamp blinks off whenever it pleases.
Stay with me, little light.
Outside in winter coats, firs stand around.
...
Dormant tune
You can see through black limbs
across the street
upstairs in a spare bedroom window
the sun trying to get up....
Neighbor dog’s calling
I’m trying to love you, Riley, neighbor, asyou try nonstop to woof flip-flop (whip-whop,hip-hop, rip-rop, bip-bop)—just let me...
Pound pup makes it new
Rush frantic pup out to pee(tenth time this blustery night),and he sits. Still. Nose to sky.Those waving black boughs! Rustles!Scents! Flickering petals...
Free Newsletters
From theological reflections to breaking religion news to the latest books, the Christian Century's newsletters have you covered.