Last Will & Testament, A Memoir in Poetry

Have you ever sat in a room full of strangers, surrounded by silence, listening to the labored breathing of the person everyone is either staring at or desperately trying not to? Imagine this scene in a stark hospital room where machines beep and flash their little lights, serenading the life that’s slowly slipping away.

Or perhaps you’ve experienced the moment of rubbing frankincense-infused oil on an hours-old baby’s forehead while sharing in the parents’ tearful joy? Or the same gesture when that baby has passed away?

In the Introduction to ＂Last Will & Testament,＂ Cameron Miller invites us into what may seem like the peculiar experiences of a preacher’s life, but what we find is a reflection of our own. Rather than being mere observers, we become participants in Miller’s search for the sacred hidden in plain sight. Through his poetry, essays, and short stories, Miller explores themes of doubt and hope, grief and love, trust and darkness.

As an Episcopal priest who found his calling through recovery, Miller’s experiences shape this collection, which is crafted from raw, unpolished moments. It’s a collection that defies traditional structure, allowing readers to pick it up and put it down at will, discovering and healing with each reading.