Two Poems from the Mad Space Poet & While the Morning Stars Sang Together

"Oh daughter, I know those stars will always replay the reminder of majesty beyond this pain-shaken planet."

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While the Morning Stars Sang Together, a forthcoming book by J. J. Brinski, poet and contributor to the poetry Substack, is on Kickstarter now. Here is a preview of two poems from the book. They are a good sample of the whimsical, profound, and deftly theological work of J. J. Brinski.

FROZEN FOR STARS

This evening, I caught 
my 14-year-old daughter 
l i n g e r i n g  
with neck bent,
looking long at 
the winking skylights.
Awe-deaf, she didn’t 
hear me inquire 
a second time
before I saw her gaze.
I froze with her at 10°
but not from the cold. 
I tarried at the 
shimmering worth,
warmed by the wondrous.
Oh daughter, 
I know those stars 
will always replay the 
reminder of majesty beyond 
this pain-shaken planet.     

---

A HOPE BEYOND THE MOON EUROPA

Out the fog-frosted panes 
this morning,
the pulse of the year 
had slowed, lessened.
Sugar softness now covered
the all-too-familiar
and I too relaxed, down-shifted,
with clean breaths and 
honest sighs of glad tidings.
It was the first real snow;
it smelled like water laying still…
it announced its arrival by
eating the Earth’s echoes.
and the liturgy tells me this 
is a fresh canvas, a do-over.
I hope beyond the moon Europa 
that this is true.

---

Note: the liturgy referenced in the poem is Doug McKelvey’s “Liturgy for the First Snow” from Every Moment Holy.

JJ Brinski, aka Joshua Brindle, is a poet and flash-fictioner living in Marquette, MI (in da U.P.) with his wife Grace and four daughters. Having many passions, JJ spends most of his time loving space, sci-fi movies, heavy music, theology, collecting typewriters, riding his bike ridiculous distances, making up words, and playfully arguing about Star Wars. JJ & company have seen the Wienermobile on three separate occasions! Find his poetry and typewriter work on Instagram @jjbrinski.