THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES
Literary Journal
The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal Presents:
COMING FALL 2024…
M A S T H E A D:
Editors: Sarah Steele, Kimberly Kralovic, and Ashley Whittemore
Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Kimberly Phinney
THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS
by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives might be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
MAY YOU HEAR THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS SPEAK INTO YOUR SOUL.
Listen to the poets of the Spring Collection: Renaissance read their work with our NEW podcast, The Poetry Corner from The Way Back Podcast, hosted by Edward L. Holmes II and Deidre Braley.
A Butterfly’s Advice and Other Poems
In her three poems, Grace Shaw, invokes a Mary Oliver-like spirit as she meditates on nature and its spiritual gifts.
The Artist
In his moving short story, “The Artist,” Zaher Alajlani, tells an unlikely revival story through the life of Cristian, a lovelorn youth.
To the Daffodil Growing in the Shade of the Cypress Tree and Other Poems
In her poetry, Carreen Raynor explores themes of growth, survival, and beauty through nature.
April Crowns and Other Poems
In his poetry, Steven Searcy explores fatherhood and faith through the beauty of nature and innocence.
Loss to Gain
In her poem “Loss to Gain,” Ashley Whittemore learns there is great and unexpected beauty in loss.
The Orange Tree
In her poem “The Orange Tree,” Tiana Minks uses the evocative metaphor of an orange tree to communicate the human experience of depression in light of a God who saves.
From Life to Death to Life and Other Poems
In her poetry, Sarah Steele writes about revival, prayer, and journeys through evocative nature and color imagery.
Mountain Laurel Living
In her poem “Mountain Laurel Living,” Bethany Peck writes about loss, suffering, and faith through the metaphor of the Mountain Laurel.
Cat Nap Revival and Other Poems
In her poetry, Elizabeth Hudgens writes about longing, perseverance, and revival through creative metaphors.
Holy Spirit, Help
Nathaniel Evans poem, “Holy Spirit, Help,” reads like a fervent prayer, as he asks God’s Holy Spirit to help him through his faith walk and the difficulties of this life.
Start your journey.
It starts today— in the small steps you take, the hands you hold, the prayers you say, the art you make, and the hard things you conquer… The way back isn’t as far as you think.
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