{"product_id":"the-river-of-perpetual-departure-connie-johnstone-9781639807741","title":"The River of Perpetual Departure","description":"\"Exploration into vastness and minute detail...How stars are going about their billion-miles-away business...\" Connie Johnstone examines and celebrates with a naturalist's passion and photographer's eye throughout this wonderful, wide-ranging collection. Johnstone's work as a Hospice chaplain infuses the poems with a compassionate intimacy. Yes, we are all afloat in the river of perpetual departure, but these poems hold hands with us; they remind us we are, no matter what, always in it together.\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eSusan Kelly-DeWitt\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, author, \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eFrangible Operas\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe River of Perpetual Departure, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e former Hospice chaplain Connie Johnstone\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003egives us twenty-five powerful poems. Lyrical, courageous, original, finely-crafted, and often hauntingly beautiful, they explore the fragility of life and the impenetrable mystery of death, that \"unholy holy,\" with humility, compassion, and a willingness to look almost-unbearable grief straight in the face. Johnstone is such an accomplished poet, that it is hard to believe \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe River of Perpetual Departure\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e is her first book of poems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eMary Mackey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, author, \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Jaguars That Prowl Our Dreams\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe's written novels, edited anthologies, lived a full life in words. Now with this collection, \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe River of Perpetual Departure, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eConnie Johnstone turns her focus to poetry, and she's come home. From descriptions of New Mexico sandstorms to Boston soirées, the voice is her own. Whether dreaming a conversation with Leonard Cohen or calmly chatting with a honeybee in her hand, the poet's eye is steady, the line holds true. Funny, detailed, earthy, and kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eBob Stanley\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, author, \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eLanguage Barrier\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Connie Johnstone\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1639807748\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781639807741\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Kelsay Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/16\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 70\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.23lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.15d","brand":"Connie Johnstone","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47474535071999,"sku":"9781639807741","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b680b169-d137-4d73-b29a-3a657ff4b842.jpg?v=1762317357","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-river-of-perpetual-departure-connie-johnstone-9781639807741","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}