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and we walk: confessions of faith, hope and love
"When I die, I want you to laugh, " writes J.E. Misz in his debut poetry chapbook AND WE WALK, featuring poems he has written over the course of the last decade. Poems are categorized into themes most relevant in his work - faith, hope and love. J.E. weaves in both his humor and reverence to address topics such as addiction, mental and physical health, justice, peace and the love of God and others. Each poem corresponds with a verse or story from Scripture that influenced or guided the creation of the piece. While each poem has been a personal prayer for J.E., those from many walks of life have been able to enjoy (or at least pretend to tolerate) the perspective of his story and walk.
64 pages, Paperback
Published March 11, 2018
About the author
J.E. Misz
3 books2 followersJ.E. Misz is a social worker and spoken word poet.
He received his undergraduate degree in Christian Ministries from Indiana Wesleyan University, and went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Duke University, and his Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina.
Misz has been published in several literary journals, and has won Poetry Slams across the Midwest, where he currently resides with his wife and backyard chickens.
He received his undergraduate degree in Christian Ministries from Indiana Wesleyan University, and went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Duke University, and his Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina.
Misz has been published in several literary journals, and has won Poetry Slams across the Midwest, where he currently resides with his wife and backyard chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
June 7, 2026
Even if you decide to scroll past this review, read the poem.
ode to my doubt
(Psalm 22:1-2)
by J.E. Misz
She is arrogant and loud
She is bombastic when she walks into a room
Chin up, eyes down
She makes a calloused first impression
So we don't like to go out much in public
She revels in disappointments and delights in contradictions
She is utterly unimpressed with the recommendations of others
She is a Truth seeker
Raising suspicion like a flag at half-mast
Because she doesn't want to commit or anything
Unwelcomed in church pews
And called "a threat" behind a pulpit
Yet she sits there every Sunday
Staring at a santuary cross
That's been unblemished by blood and nails
While her mouth tastes like iron
From crucifying her tongue with her teeth
It's not that she opposes faith, only certainty
And certainty leaves little room for doubt or faith
Which is why she makes me so uncomfortable
When she curls up close touching head to heart
She feels warm
Almost like grace
Almost as if she is the only thing I'm sure of
Almost like no one has been more faithful to me than my doubt
So these words are for her
May she skeptically accept my sincerity, as expected
And stay with me til morning comes
------
*The Review*
Look: Overall, I think Misz's second collection - A World We Might Have Built: Poems for Ceasefire is stronger overall. I think the poems are tighter. Cleaner. More persuasive. He's honed his craft, or whatever.
But that's not to say there aren't some BANGERS in this collection. I think "ode to my doubt" may be my favorite piece of his that I've read to-date. And I recognize that that's always an unfair, UNFAIR judgement. There were some terribly moving works in A World... And it has been too long since I've read it for a fair comparison.
Even so: ode to my doubt. Coming out of the theology I came out of... entering into the theology I've entered into... It is moving and spot on. Spot. On.
David Bazan has a song called "Bearing Witness" - here are the opening lines:
I clung to miracles I have not seen
From ancient autographs I cannot read
Though I've repented I'm still tempted to admit
But it's not bearing witness is
In certain denominations, it is incredibly difficult to be open and honest. But what IS "bearing witness?" What can you honestly HONESTLY bear witness to? Bazan's lyrics - though difficult for Conservative Christians - are honest. As is Misz's poem.
And in my mind, that poem has her playing a harlot in the church. And Christ talked to prostitutes. And Christ was called out for it. And Christ called out those calling Him out... And: Spoiler alert: He was in the right.
But sometimes it's so easy when you are the divine right.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest."
That was the verse that preceded this poem. (Every poem was a meditation on a verse.)
Sometimes, when I doubt, I hype myself up. To cast the doubt out. "WE'RE GOING TO WIN! WE'RE GOING. TO. WIN!"
I wonder if Christ did that.
The man/God thing is hard to grasp. It's hard to argue with someone who is always right. It's hard to believe they are fully man. Even if they went through it, they knew how it would end, right?
Which is to say that even if I liked "A World..." more as a whole - this (much shorter) collection is definitely worth a read. It's wonderful.
ode to my doubt
(Psalm 22:1-2)
by J.E. Misz
She is arrogant and loud
She is bombastic when she walks into a room
Chin up, eyes down
She makes a calloused first impression
So we don't like to go out much in public
She revels in disappointments and delights in contradictions
She is utterly unimpressed with the recommendations of others
She is a Truth seeker
Raising suspicion like a flag at half-mast
Because she doesn't want to commit or anything
Unwelcomed in church pews
And called "a threat" behind a pulpit
Yet she sits there every Sunday
Staring at a santuary cross
That's been unblemished by blood and nails
While her mouth tastes like iron
From crucifying her tongue with her teeth
It's not that she opposes faith, only certainty
And certainty leaves little room for doubt or faith
Which is why she makes me so uncomfortable
When she curls up close touching head to heart
She feels warm
Almost like grace
Almost as if she is the only thing I'm sure of
Almost like no one has been more faithful to me than my doubt
So these words are for her
May she skeptically accept my sincerity, as expected
And stay with me til morning comes
------
*The Review*
Look: Overall, I think Misz's second collection - A World We Might Have Built: Poems for Ceasefire is stronger overall. I think the poems are tighter. Cleaner. More persuasive. He's honed his craft, or whatever.
But that's not to say there aren't some BANGERS in this collection. I think "ode to my doubt" may be my favorite piece of his that I've read to-date. And I recognize that that's always an unfair, UNFAIR judgement. There were some terribly moving works in A World... And it has been too long since I've read it for a fair comparison.
Even so: ode to my doubt. Coming out of the theology I came out of... entering into the theology I've entered into... It is moving and spot on. Spot. On.
David Bazan has a song called "Bearing Witness" - here are the opening lines:
I clung to miracles I have not seen
From ancient autographs I cannot read
Though I've repented I'm still tempted to admit
But it's not bearing witness is
In certain denominations, it is incredibly difficult to be open and honest. But what IS "bearing witness?" What can you honestly HONESTLY bear witness to? Bazan's lyrics - though difficult for Conservative Christians - are honest. As is Misz's poem.
And in my mind, that poem has her playing a harlot in the church. And Christ talked to prostitutes. And Christ was called out for it. And Christ called out those calling Him out... And: Spoiler alert: He was in the right.
But sometimes it's so easy when you are the divine right.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest."
That was the verse that preceded this poem. (Every poem was a meditation on a verse.)
Sometimes, when I doubt, I hype myself up. To cast the doubt out. "WE'RE GOING TO WIN! WE'RE GOING. TO. WIN!"
I wonder if Christ did that.
The man/God thing is hard to grasp. It's hard to argue with someone who is always right. It's hard to believe they are fully man. Even if they went through it, they knew how it would end, right?
Which is to say that even if I liked "A World..." more as a whole - this (much shorter) collection is definitely worth a read. It's wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review