In his sonnet “Worry,” Jeffrey Essmann expresses gratitude for an answered prayer, reflecting on themes of faith and divine intervention, inspired by the spiritual legacy of Blessed Solanus Casey. Continue reading Worry

In his sonnet “Silence,” Jeffrey Essmann reflects on the need for silence to begin to hear the whisperings of God Continue reading Silence

In his sonnet “The Sins of Israel,” Jeffrey Essmann finds his connection with the failings of post-Egypt Hebrews and with God’s love for them nonetheless. Continue reading The Sins of Israel

In his poem “He Didn’t Die,” Jeffrey Essmann reflects on what Christ didn’t die for on the Cross. Continue reading He Didn’t Die

In his mini-ballad, “The Nursing Home,” Jeffrey Essmann reflects on the mystery and miracle of prayer. Continue reading The Nursing Home

In his Spenserian sonnet “The Miracle of Maple,” Jeffrey Essmann reflects on how nature can trip us wonderfully and beautifully into the transcendent. Continue reading The Miracle of Maple

In his poem “Morning Birds,” Jeffrey Essmann recounts how birdsong carried him from morning prayer to the most important morning of all. Continue reading Morning Birds

In this set of cinquains, Jeffrey Essmann considers the “sad and human” power God endowed us with that’s intrinsic to salvation history. Continue reading Power

In his poem, “The Psalms,” Jeffrey Essmann reflects on the joy of knowing where the Psalms’ yearning for redemption leads. Continue reading The Psalms

In his poem, “Morning Prayer,” Jeffrey Essmann considers how ephemeral the voice of God can be. Continue reading Morning Prayer

In his poem, “Holy Saturday,” inspired from John Donne, Jeffrey Essmann explores the fertile stillness of Holy Saturday. Continue reading Holy Saturday

In his poem, “Affliction,” Jeffrey Essmann explores the mystery of suffering (with a nod toward George Herbert.) Continue reading Affliction