I was visiting Saint Paul, Minnesota, where I had once lived, briefly, a thousand years ago. A close friend of mine claimed that the Cathedral of Saint Paul was a must-see. The structure itself was beautiful, but it was the replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà that struck me the most. At the time I had begun working on this series of poems and it felt particularly apt to include one about the experience. 

Kelly R. Samuels is the author of two poetry collections and five chapbooks—the most recent Oblivescence, a finalist for the Edna Meudt Poetry Book Award (Red Sweater Press, 2024), and The Sailing Place (Bottlecap Press, 2026.) Her work has recently appeared in Blue Earth Review, Laurel Review and The Glacier. 

W: https://www.krsamuels.com/
I: @kellyrsamuels