The small country church stands empty,
its worshipers having taken their voices
and money elsewhere, allowing the growing
congregation of field mice to worship in
peace on any day they choose.
Mary Ellen Shaughan is a native Iowan who now lives in Western Massachusetts. Her poetry has appeared in Peregrine, Foliate Oak, Long Story Short, Iowa Writes, A&U: America’s AIDS Magazine, Aleola, and 2River View.
A Quiet Courage 