Raïssa Maritain's poetry and writings on poetry and spirituality have been eclipsed by her husband Jacque's voluminous philosophy which not only opened up fresh perspectives in twentieth century Thomism, but paved the way for a humane personalism at the heart of twentieth century post-War reconstruction in France. Still, Raïssa's work and personality remains largely eclipsed by her husband in the area of Maritain studies. Raïssa was a woman of profound mystical insight which she recorded in prayer journals, but also the author of a number of poems which reflect on spiritual and personal topics. As a convert from Judaism, Raïssa experienced not just the Second World War, but also the systematic attempt to annihilate Jewish and other minority populations in Europe, as a psycho-spiritual assault. At this point words written in prose form seem to fail her. But at this moment of exhausted speech, her poetry comes alive in psalm-like prayers which give voice to her anguish. It is through this that she articulates what we might think of as a poetic theodicy, showing that when some language fails, poetry opens up new possibilities.