Description
Book SynopsisWith his trademark self-deprecating wit, honesty, and sparkling language, John Brehm's latest collection invites readers along on his spiritual journey.
No Day at the Beach traces a progression from loneliness and the pull of the past to the grace that is found through immersion in the present and the melancholy beauty of impermanence.
Trade ReviewEvident throughout these irresistible, often self-deprecating poems 'It's no day at the beach / being me') are Brehm's persuasive wonderings, his engaging explorations, his vital need to know. Open the book anywhere and you won't want to put it down." - Andrea Hollander, author of
Blue Mistaken for Sky"
No Day at the Beach navigates a world that is by turns tragic, ironic, absurd, stunning, and unpredictably hilarious. In these wise, uncommonly empathic poems, Brehm proves himself to be a true wit for our time." - Fred Muratori, author of
A Civilization"These keen-eyed, often witty poems take a hard look at who we are and what we can do about it. Many of them are directed toward those troublesome shell casings, our bodies. Yet, as the poem 'Fedora' says, a beautiful woman may smile at you and your jaunty hat anyway-she needn't know what a wreck you are. These poems are good for what ails us all." - David Kirby, author of
More Than ThisTable of Contents
- I
- Back Then 3
- Tough Town 4
- Swifts 5
- Wishful Thinking 7
- Sleeping in the Wind 9
- The Dismal Kingdom 11
- Cold Spell 13
- Wisteria 14
- The Vow 16
- Loss and Gain 18
- Dharma Talk 19
- Fedora 20
- Delayed Response 22
- Looking on the Bright Side 23
- Right Speech 24
- Falling Hours 25
- November 27
- Signs and Wonderings 28
- II
- Blathery Performance 33
- Introductions 36
- I Decided to Weigh My Head 37
- Genius Offshore 39
- No Day at the Beach 40
- Birds of a Feather 41
- Sightlines 42
- The Empty Chair 43
- Intrigue in the Trees 44
- In Brooklyn 46
- Etiquette 49
- Thin Man 50
- Greatness 51
-
Nebraska 52
-
Spellbound 54
- Walk the Talk 56
- Time-Out 57
- Circle 59
- Field of Vision 61
- Dick's Kitchen Metaphysical 62
- Opening 64
- Winter Sky, with Crows 65
- Something and Nothing 66
- Second Sight 68
- Disputed Theory 69
- Here: An Epithalamion 70
- Over the Moon 72
- Acknowledgments 75
