What do you think?
Rate this book
Poems from the River
Just as water naturally follows the course set by the sometimes wayward and often divergent banks of the river, Kurt Brindley's poems in his debut poetry collection POEMS FROM THE RIVER follow the course set by the sometimes wayward and often divergent life he has led.
From solitary childhood reflections and isolated moments with nature, to the anxiety associated with the unrelenting passing of time and the fear of cancer's ultimate consequences, to the pleasures and pain of family, friends, work, play, love, hate, life, death, Kurt's poetry flows as does a river-sometimes with ease and quiet calm, just as a river flows through an isolated gulf's serene and lazy shallows; at other times with spontaneity and unforgiving force, just as a river flows through a precipitous canyon's tumultuous and unpredictable rapids; and at all times with undiminished resolve and pure blind faith that the end will justify the means, just as a river forever flows blindly towards some unknown, yet faithfully pursued, grander body of water.
From solitary childhood reflections and isolated moments with nature, to the anxiety associated with the unrelenting passing of time and the fear of cancer's ultimate consequences, to the pleasures and pain of family, friends, work, play, love, hate, life, death, Kurt's poetry flows as does a river-sometimes with ease and quiet calm, just as a river flows through an isolated gulf's serene and lazy shallows; at other times with spontaneity and unforgiving force, just as a river flows through a precipitous canyon's tumultuous and unpredictable rapids; and at all times with undiminished resolve and pure blind faith that the end will justify the means, just as a river forever flows blindly towards some unknown, yet faithfully pursued, grander body of water.
91 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Brindley
10 books38 followersA husband and father of three adult children and two monster Plott Hounds, Kurt Brindley is a retired sailor who lives in Southern Pennsylvania in a house on top of a windy and rolling hill. He traveled much of the world while serving in the navy and, aye, he’s got some stories to tell…
Whiles serving in the navy, Kurt earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Maryland and a graduate degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1998, he took a hiatus from his regular navy duties as a navy telecommunications specialist to attend the U. S. military’s Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. The institute is little known to most but is internationally renowned to those in the human relations field.
Upon graduation, Kurt was certified as a Navy Equal Opportunity Adviser and assigned the responsibilities of providing diversity management training and equal opportunity consultation and assistance to navy personnel throughout the navy’s Western Pacific area of operations.
Much of this work focused on awareness and outreach seminars in an effort to mitigate the harassment and abuse that resulted from the confusion and resentment surrounding the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
His assignment as an EOA was one of the most challenging, and rewarding, assignments of his navy career, and it served as the impetus behind much of his early writing, including his novel INSIDE THE SKIN and his short story “Leave.”
The author of three novels, one short story collection, two books of poetry, and one little book of inspiration, Kurt, in pursuit of new literary challenges, adapted his short story Leave into a screenplay in the summer of 2015. In October 2016, Leave was filmed and produced in Los Angeles with an amazing cast and crew. It premiered at the LA Femme Film Festival in October 2018.
Kurt is not a fan of the soul-sapping effort writing takes, but he does rather enjoy blogging, or, as he prefers to refer to it as, "surmising with aplomb and nary remorse." While doing so, he likes to wax poetic, overshare poorly lit photographs of his rather large and wily yet devout and loveable Plott Hounds Aurelius and Zeno, and every now and again, if he can muster up the courage, venture naively into commentary on all our pretty yet petulant planet’s perplexing problems, political and/or otherwise.
When not telling stories, reading, or being managed by Zeno & Aurelius, he often wanders down to the bottom of his hill to walk along the countryside’s many rushing creeks and silent still ponds.
He likes it there down by the water…
Whiles serving in the navy, Kurt earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Maryland and a graduate degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1998, he took a hiatus from his regular navy duties as a navy telecommunications specialist to attend the U. S. military’s Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. The institute is little known to most but is internationally renowned to those in the human relations field.
Upon graduation, Kurt was certified as a Navy Equal Opportunity Adviser and assigned the responsibilities of providing diversity management training and equal opportunity consultation and assistance to navy personnel throughout the navy’s Western Pacific area of operations.
Much of this work focused on awareness and outreach seminars in an effort to mitigate the harassment and abuse that resulted from the confusion and resentment surrounding the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
His assignment as an EOA was one of the most challenging, and rewarding, assignments of his navy career, and it served as the impetus behind much of his early writing, including his novel INSIDE THE SKIN and his short story “Leave.”
The author of three novels, one short story collection, two books of poetry, and one little book of inspiration, Kurt, in pursuit of new literary challenges, adapted his short story Leave into a screenplay in the summer of 2015. In October 2016, Leave was filmed and produced in Los Angeles with an amazing cast and crew. It premiered at the LA Femme Film Festival in October 2018.
Kurt is not a fan of the soul-sapping effort writing takes, but he does rather enjoy blogging, or, as he prefers to refer to it as, "surmising with aplomb and nary remorse." While doing so, he likes to wax poetic, overshare poorly lit photographs of his rather large and wily yet devout and loveable Plott Hounds Aurelius and Zeno, and every now and again, if he can muster up the courage, venture naively into commentary on all our pretty yet petulant planet’s perplexing problems, political and/or otherwise.
When not telling stories, reading, or being managed by Zeno & Aurelius, he often wanders down to the bottom of his hill to walk along the countryside’s many rushing creeks and silent still ponds.
He likes it there down by the water…
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 24, 2015
I read this collection of poems last year. Just beautiful. A powerful use of words that spell bind and pull you into a heaving current of shimmering visions. A book of poetry that you’ll return to time and time again.
October 23, 2014
Kurt Brindley writes in the forward, “Many of these poems, especially those from the Ashtabula Collection, have been with me for so long that they are to me like old photos.”
And that’s what drew me to this collection, the images. Starting with the cover. Even though we’ve all heard “don’t judge a book by its cover,” for me there’s the feeling of serenity, which reflections should be.
My favorite is “The Barn.” Love the personification--- “like an old man with a story to tell”---how the structure is incorporated through the different stages of the speaker’s life.
Wonderful. Am reminded of the earthy poems of Ron Rash. Wonderful.
Others favorites include the crystal clear meaning of “Without a Word” and memories evoked from objects in “Sitting with You.” Thought the brevity of “Drain” spoke volumes.
Still debating “Picking Through the Pile.” Love the set-up and images, but somehow got lost in the middle. Which, in art, is a good thing. You get to go back and ponder meanings, which are different for everyone.
“Afterward” is a beautiful, haunting ending.
This is a book you should read. My only complaint, wanted more poems like “The Barn.”
And that’s what drew me to this collection, the images. Starting with the cover. Even though we’ve all heard “don’t judge a book by its cover,” for me there’s the feeling of serenity, which reflections should be.
My favorite is “The Barn.” Love the personification--- “like an old man with a story to tell”---how the structure is incorporated through the different stages of the speaker’s life.
Wonderful. Am reminded of the earthy poems of Ron Rash. Wonderful.
Others favorites include the crystal clear meaning of “Without a Word” and memories evoked from objects in “Sitting with You.” Thought the brevity of “Drain” spoke volumes.
Still debating “Picking Through the Pile.” Love the set-up and images, but somehow got lost in the middle. Which, in art, is a good thing. You get to go back and ponder meanings, which are different for everyone.
“Afterward” is a beautiful, haunting ending.
This is a book you should read. My only complaint, wanted more poems like “The Barn.”
January 4, 2015
There is a simplicity and honesty in some of these poems that reminds me of pieces I have written and works I have read from others. But what makes this stand out is it's voice. Sharing one's individual experiences is not always easy to capture but it's done well here. The Barn and Wood are the poems that really stand out in my mind for reasons that I cannot describe other than the author really put his all into them.
January 9, 2015
I like this!
My knowledge of poetry doesn't go too much past Nantucket, but I like this. Brindley's poems are very personal, with powerful use of words.
My knowledge of poetry doesn't go too much past Nantucket, but I like this. Brindley's poems are very personal, with powerful use of words.
March 28, 2015
His collection of poems are tender and beautifully written.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews