Ruminate Magazine: Faith in Literature and Art

I am proud to share this issue with you all. Flipping through the proof pages, it seems like such an abundant communion of artists—of artists coming together, collecting, and sharing their gifts. And now because of your participation as reader, this communing and community is even more complete and the exchange is even greater. Thank you for joining us. 

We are also proud to share the winning poems from our 2008 Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize. The timing seems entirely fitting for this communion issue as the prize is a great example of the breadth of talent in today’s poets who are engaging faith in their craft. In fact, the entries were so impressive that our friend Luci Shaw—poet and judge of this prize—selected three winning poems instead of the anticipated two. Ms. Shaw wrote: 

I have truly enjoyed reading through the poems you sent in for the Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize—what a cornucopia of riches. It was hard to make a final choice, but three poems kept coming to the top: “Confession,” “Rehearsals,” and “American Sweetgum.” 

Here’s what I’d like to do, with your permission. I’ll forgo the honorarium you were going to give me and add it to the purse for the prize-winners. If that plan fits your contest, I’d suggest “Confession” as first prize and “Rehearsals” and “American Sweetgum” as runners-up, since I can’t decide between those two!

In the cause of poetry, 

Luci 

I loved receiving this letter because it affirms what we at RUMINATE believe—that the arts, and indeed, the very act of creation (as our featured artist Evan Mann reminds us), are a cause worthy of our generosity, admiration, and contemplation. Thank you Luci, all of our contributors, and our readers for supporting this cause alongside us. It is this communion of believers, writers, artists, and thinkers that moves us all forward. 

Warmly, 

Brianna Van Dyke