A Word in the Hand

The most meaningful single-volume introduction to one of America's most beloved Christian poets.

A Word in the Hand is a luminous gathering of poems from the extraordinary literary life of Luci Shaw—including nine new poems written in the final months before her death alongside treasured selections from more than five decades of an astonishingly prolific career.

Presented in a beautiful hardcover edition with a ribbon marker and elegant watercolor illustrations, this commemorative collection invites readers into Shaw's enduring vision: a world where dogwoods, loons, vintage barns, stars, mountain light, memory, and Scripture all become windows into the presence of the Creator, a world of vibrant spiritual imagination where God is likened to a great bear who leaves paw tracks for us to follow.

Whether reflecting on the beauty of creation, the mysteries of faith, the tenderness of family, the calling of the writer, or the grace found in aging and death, Luci Shaw's poems inspire us to pay close attention, to persevere, to let our spirits be nourished. Her distinctive voice—gentle, wise, curious, playful, honest, and deeply rooted in Christian hope—has shaped and encouraged generations of readers and writers.

Carefully curated by longtime friend and editor Karen Cooper together with Luci's son John Shaw, this volume serves as both an introduction for new readers and a meaningful keepsake for those who know and love her work. The inclusion of her final poems makes this collection especially poignant: one last invitation to see the world as Luci did, with imagination, awe, and deep delight. 

A Word in the Hand celebrates the remarkable legacy of a writer whose words continue to inspire us to slow down, quiet our distracted minds, and see God's hand in the exquisite beauty all around us.