The Sigh and Flutter uncovers the shimmer of meaning in life's overlooked corners-dreams tucked away, goofy dog noises, a sudden rush of gratitude. With wit, tenderness, and keen observation, Julie Ann Baker Brin transforms the ordinary into the luminous, reminding us that the sacred lives within the everyday.
Both whimsical and wise, these poems embrace the paradox of human experience-its gravity and its wonder. From the emotional archaeology of a "personal storage space" to a cascade of unexpected gratitude, Brin's voice is intimate, sharp, and deeply human. She invites readers to rediscover beauty in the mundane and to see how even the smallest details can glimmer with significance.
Advance praise calls this collection "hopeful, specific, philosophical, wise" (Kevin Rabas, Kansas Poet Laureate, 2017-2019), "magnificent and alarming" (Michael Poage), and "reimagining the small intimacies and disconnects that shape our lives" (Gretchen Cassel Eick).
Whether enjoyed for solace, inspiration, or surprise, The Sigh and Flutter meets readers in the fleeting, unpredictable now. These poems remind us that life is both fragile and resilient-that the human spirit is as much about earthbound coffee as it is about the stars.
About the Author
Julie Ann Baker Brin has two middle names (not two last names like normal people; it was her Mom’s idea and even she forgot). By day she has been a nonprofit administrative assistant for decades (you wouldn’t believe how many if she told you). By night she likes to expose the other side of her brain to creative endeavors in an attempt to reverse the soul-strangling effects of red tape. Where she falls on a variety of spectrums depends on the hour; let’s just enjoy the mystery. She could probably be the poster-child for several issues, some of them possibly even trendy, but isn’t fond of labels ... unless poem titles count as labels, because she isn’t fond of “untitled” pieces, either.
Julie has resided in Indiana and Kansas (plus a rollercoaster of a year abroad) and was honored to be named 2023 Kansas Authors Club Poet of the Year. Her actual state is one of a mind filled with doggies, chocolate, celestial objects, and song lyrics. Her favorite places in the world are wherever she can find kind and smart people, well-behaved animal companions, fascinating art, and/or meaningful music. Her portfolio is at juliebrin.org (also dot-com, but she’s a dot-org kind of gal), which showcases more of her poetry-like substances, a bit of creative nonfiction, some shameless selfies, and pieces that have won awards or have been featured in journals throughout the Midwest and Great Plains (those blur together in her mind), where the vortex has mysteriously kept her.
