Madeline Roth

Mountain Valley Hymnal

Elk under new moon’s wing

Shadow of crescent rings around the mirrorless sphere

Perfection’s eye a black center hollow

Home to owl, squirrel, and glass bottle.

Come home critters

Let us make measure for measure

Of our flour into bread

Clean water into distillate

Spirit of flesh into cosmic breath

Amen to this river

In whose waters a pebble tumbled

From high mountain peak

Carried by snow melt

Into the spring

Which became a torrent

Which became an eddy

Which became the riverbank

The stone in the center

Of the six-pointed antler

Configuration

Shed a season

Before and before and before

After and after and after

We live in the shadow of the cross

Madeline Roth is a writer, musician, artist, and mystic from Salt Lake City, UT. Her debut self-illustrated poetry collection I Am Daughter: A Manifesto reflecting her journey back to Christ will be published in early September 2024 and will be available wherever fine books are sold. Visit her website thestreetmystic.com for essays, podcasts, and more. Follow her Instagram @madeline.roth23 for photos, reflections, and updates.