James Matthew Wilson

James Matthew Wilson is the founding director of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Saint Thomas in Texas, and poet-in-residence of the Benedict XVI Institute which is centred in San Diego — although he and his family live in Michigan. He is influential as a poet, critic, and scholar, particularly in Catholic and conservative circles. He regularly contributes to such magazines as First Things, The New Criterion, National Review, and The American Conservative.

Among his fourteen published books are several poetry collections; his latest is Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds (Word on Fire, 2024). As a poet he is clearly a formalist, which is evident in his roles as Poetry Editor for Modern Age magazine, and as Series Editor for Colosseum Books.

The following poem first appeared in the 2024 issue of Presence.

A Dedication to My Wife
----of a book of Anne Bradstreet's poems

If ever two were one, then why not we?
We have begot two in our unity
And find these incarnation of our love
Whatever other mercy from above
Rains down on me—the joys of work, the ease
Of sunshine, peace in thought—may He still please
To let me share these goods with you; or, better,
To let us know them in one heart, our letter
Sign with one name, and find in every hour
Not failing moments but a lating power
That, met with suffering or trial, endures,
Like cellared wine grow fine as it matures.

This post was suggested by my friend Burl Horniachek.

Posted with permission of the poet.

Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the author of five poetry collections including Angelicus (2021, Cascade) ― a book of poems written from the point-of-view of angels. His books are available through Wipf & Stock.