Michael Stalcup

He is risen! (At least over here in Thailand! 😊) Enjoy my John Donne-inspired Easter sonnet “Keyhole” and this glorious painting by Shin Young-Hun at my poetry newsletter: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/keyhole

For #GoodFriday, I offer this hopeful sonnet which reflects on the reality that Jesus’ death on the cross is an event so vast and mysterious that even Scripture only approaches it with metaphors. Read it here: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/a-mystery

These five short poems take us from #MaundyThursday through #EasterSunday. I restricted myself to words that could be formed from the letters in each poem’s title. For example, "their" can be made from the letters in “Eucharist.” Read the poems at michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/holy-week-po…

For Lent and Black History Month, I offer a sonnet of lament and confession that speaks equally to two horrors—the crucifixion of Jesus and the lynching of African Americans—with a single set of words, helping us to consider them together. Read it here: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/the-cross-an…

@wdavidotaylor @ivpress Was juuuust about to order this. Can't wait!

This week's 90-SECOND BOOK REVIEW is of the "First Nations Version: Psalms and Proverbs: An Indigenous Bible Translation" (@ivpress, 2025). It's such a vivid and beautiful and powerful translation of the psalms. Highly recommend. instagram.com/reel/DUHj3xtEf…

In my latest newsletter, I share my sonnet adaptation of a prayer by John Wesley & a painting by Bangladeshi artist Nikhil Halder: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/covenant-pra… Special thanks to @amjuster for generously helping me to revise this poem years ago (a rare grace from any poetry editor).

Check out my new poem “Heaven’s Stair” and this incredible linocut print by Bethany Tobin as we prepare for the third Sunday of Advent. 🕯️ michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/heavens-stair

I'm so excited to be leading my seventh (!) cohort of Spirit & Scribe, a workshop about integrating spiritual formation and writing craft, starting in <24 hours! There are still a few spots left if you want to join in! Learn more at: tinyurl.com/spiritandscrib…

I just dropped my July newsletter, featuring a poem, book recommendations, and one of my *favorite* paintings 💚 Read it here: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/walking-in-t…

After a sabbatical break, my poetry newsletter is back! Read my poem "Providence" alongside an illustration by one of my favorite visual artists 🥰 here: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/providence

Applications are open through July 15 for the PAX Fellowship Writing Cohort, a nine-month cohort for Christians of color ages 25-45! Learn more at madeforpax.org/fellowship

For the fourth week of Advent, here's a Christmas Eve poem plus a look at one of my favorite Christmas paintings. ✨ michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/breathe "This Christmas Eve my infant son lies wrapped in swaddling cloths and oxygen tubes..."

Here's a poem + painting for Week 2 of Advent ✨michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/on-a-cardina… "We were almost used to living in the dark..."

For Advent this year, I will be sharing a poem and a work of visual art each week through my newsletter. Here's the poem and art for the first Sunday of Advent (Dec. 1): "Mary and Eve": michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/mary-and-eve

"I am still rowing when you would have me sail...." Read my new poem, written in the style of Hebrew Poetry, in my latest newsletter: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/psalm-at-sea

"Beyond the burning sea of demagoguery..." Here's my latest poem, published this year in @FirewordsMag, and just in time for the U.S. election season: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/beyond-the-b…

A #haiku I wrote during dinner tonight at @lcwe #L4Congress. This is what it felt like! 💖

"When I drink in the stars and upward sink into the theater your words have wrought..." I've now written over 50 sonnets, but this one I wrote back in 2019 remains a personal favorite. I'm delighted to have it published today at @TheRabbitRoom: rabbitroompoetry.substack.com/p/the-shallows…

@TheBabylonBee I’ve been listening to @fiveironfrenzy almost every day lately. Still sonically and lyrically 🔥 in 2024 and they’re still going strong.

Tragic: This Band Is Still Playing Ska And No One Has The Heart To Tell Them Ska Died 20 Years Ago buff.ly/3WZauTV

@Joseph_Fasano_ I just wrote this sonnet in response to the police murder of Sonya Massey. 💔 More about the inspiration for the poem here: michaelstalcup.substack.com/p/a-sonnet-for…

I'm always looking for new poems for the Daily Poetry Thread. Feel free to reply here with one of your own or a poem you've loved lately, so I can add a few to my lineup. Let's have a lush little thread of poems for everyone to explore this weekend. ❤️