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.
I love the descriptions of snowfall as ‘water laying still” followed by ‘eating the earth’s echoes.” Beautiful.
Everybody give JJ your dollars. This is gonna be amazing