By J. Chester Johnson
What separation?
I know it when darkness sheds
Its faintest glimmer.
What elevation?
I know it by its likely
Descent and laughter.
What resolution?
I know it exists somewhere
Between once and now.

J. Chester Johnson is a notable poet and nonfiction writer, whose recent books are St. Paul’s Chapel & Selected Shorter Poems (Saint Johann Press, 2010); Now And Then: Selected Longer Poems (Saint Johann Press, 2017); Auden, the Psalms, and Me (Church Publishing, 2017); and Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and A Story of Reconciliation (Pegasus Books, 2020). His poem about the iconic St. Paul’s Chapel, relief center for the recovery workers at Ground Zero in New York City, has been the Chapel’s memento card since soon after the 9/11 terrorists’ attacks (1.5 million cards distributed); American Book Review said of the poem: “Johnson’s ‘St. Paul’s Chapel’ is one of the most widely distributed, lauded, and translated poems of the current century.” Select venues/outlets include: The New York Times, The Carter Center, Washington National Cathedral, and BBC, among others. One of fifteen writers selected to be showcased for the inaugural Harvard Alumni Authors’ Book Fair in 2019, Johnson was educated at Harvard College and the University of Arkansas (Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2010).