Really, Only a Few Things Matter
It's here! "This Too" is now available. A poem for your Friday, date for this month's "Write Yourself Free" class & a special invitation
Finally, and right on time, they have arrived!
My brand new book This Too: Words To Walk You Home is now available!
For those of you who pre-ordered, I am thrilled to say that This Too will be on its way to you in the next couple of days!
Thank you again to those of you who joined me last week for my book launch celebration, I am still basking in the afterglow of that beautiful hour together.
My hope is that “This Too” feels like a nest you can rest inside. And also like a spark that grows you warmer, truer, brighter.
It Could Be
a smile or a poem. Or new day light
that finds you through an open
window. Or, perhaps, remembering
that tomorrow was never promised.
It could be the scent
of baking bread, the first chill
of autumn that has you reaching
for your favorite wool sweater. Or maybe
it’s the noticing of how easily
red maple becomes and lets go.
It could be taking today off
to be still, to un-know,
to notice. To practice loosening
your troubled grip
because grace can never
be gripped or grabbed.
It could be choosing
softness in a world grown hard
because you’re tired of hurting
and being hurt and mercy
is the best kind of medicine.
It could be an invitation to gather
around the listening table
where every color is beautiful, where
there is no blame,
no shame, no them—no other.
It could be
It could be any of these things
or no thing at all, that remind you that, really,
only a few things matter—
Food. Trees. Words. Love. Mostly love.It Could Be is one of dozens of poems in ZenJen Brown 💜 ‘s gorgeous new (generously free) anthology: The Intention of Love.
Click on the below image to download a copy for yourself and/or to gift to others.
And, speaking of ZenJen Brown 💜 , she & I will be in conversation on Tuesday, July 14th, 1:00 (PST), with my new book, This Too: Words To Walk You Home as our focus. This is a free conversation, open to all (via Zoom).
In ZenJen’s words:
This will be more than a book launch. It will be an open conversation—with Julia, with the poems, and with all who gather. Come listen. Come celebrate. Come be part of the conversation. Come as you are.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO SIGN UP TO JOIN US
Come write with me!
This month’s Write Yourself Free class (for paid subscribers of my Substack page) will be on Tuesday, July 28th, from 4:00—6:00 pm (PST).
Write Yourself Free is all about freeing ourselves so that we can write & live from true, rather than writing and living from a place of trying to be “good.”
I so hope to see you there!
I really enjoyed your book launch party and can't wait to get mine. I love your poem "It could be" and I recently a poem inspired by yours.
It Could Be /After It Could Be by Julia Fehrenbacher
It could be that we know that tomorrow is not promised
We all arrive with expiration dates.
I want to live each day with wonder as if it is my first.
Rejoicing that I am still here.
Reminding myself of the beauty surrounds me.
My drawers overflow with letters and cards received from family, friends and patients
Prompting me to recall that although I have not been able to help all those I have touched
I have made a difference.
JULIA!!! I am so excited for you (and for everyone who will soon be able to hold your book in their hands). I am celebrating you and the love you pour into the world through your poetry. I cannot wait to receive my copy of your book. Love and hugs, my friend.