I've Never Seen A Moose in the Wild

Wednesday Poetry Club: Featuring Kimberly Phinney

Hello!

Before we jump into today’s poems … welcome!

My name is Tanner. I am an author, spoken word poet, and speaker. Every week I share a few hopeful poems, prayers, and reflections. If you enjoy the words I share, I’d love to have you support this ministry at the monthly, annual, or founding member level.

Welcome to the Wednesday Poetry Club.

Last week we kicked off the club with one of my favorite poems, Walk A Little Slower. Today I’ll be sharing another poem and one from my friend

Kimberly Phinney

. Her poem, A Sea of Stars, can be found in her brand new book, Exalted Ground. It is a beautiful book fill of hope and wisdom. I had the honor of writing the foreword for the collection. If you’re looking for a new book to sit with this, this is the one.

If you want to know more about Wednesday Poetry Club, scroll to the bottom for all the details, but all you really need to know is that Wednesday Poetry Club is for poets, readers, and anyone who loves language. It lives entirely on Substack. Every Wednesday, poems are shared, inspiration is sparked, and a sense of community grows.

Sea of Stars

A poem by

Kimberly Phinney

, from her latest collection of poetry: Exalted Ground: Poems of Praise and Lament for the Living.

“A leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of stars.” –Walt Whitman

I rushed here to say:

What if the night sky—
all ebbing sapphire and shadows—
was the sea?

What if the flourishes of strata clouds—
all stretched across the air like cotton spools unfurling—
were the whitecaps of waves,
raging on throughout the world?

What if the errant planes were ancient ships lost to wrecks
and the birds were great blue whales—
moving in pods toward the vast unknown?

And what if the stars—
all the billions that go on multiplying while we dream—
were glowing lighthouses beckoning us home?

What if?
What if it’s so?
Would it change a thing?

No matter, because I am here,
looking up and looking on.
A witness: landlocked, in awe,
and praising as if it was.

A Note From Kimberly Phinney
I wrote "Sea of Stars" after a wondrous midnight walk. The world was quiet, and my heart was heavy. And yet, in all my suffering and the noise between my ears, the night sky was doing what it always did: it was being miraculous and grand and inspiring. It stopped me in my tracks, as I noticed how the errant strata clouds looked like crashing waves and the largest stars twinkled like lighthouses. And just like that, by God's grace, the beauty of the night sky became a place of inspiration. I imagined all the ways it could be the ocean, and how I was then suspended above it all, looking down in awe. Before I knew it, my pain and suffering were suspended in those moments of wonder. I rushed home to record the experience in poetry, recognizing that whether the night sky can magically turn into the ocean or not, it still is exceedingly miraculous. Beauty is everywhere, unfolding all the time, even when we are suffering. What a hopeful act it is to look for it in the midst of our pain. Beauty is God's rescue plan for mankind; that's why he sent his son.

Grab the book on Amazon

Cultivate 2025

Kimberly is also the host of the exclusive virtual retreat, Cultivate, which is happening June 20-22.

This year the theme is on cultivating UNRELENTING HOPE.

I’ll be one of the presenters along with several other writers and creatives.

The retreat will be live on Zoom and recorded for after-viewing for those who cannot attend all sessions live or wish to re-watch the experience.

If you want to grow as a writer and creative, this retreat is for you!

For more information and to grab your ticket, click the button.

I’ve Never Seen A Moose in the Wild

Today’s poem comes from my book of poetry, Walk A Little Slower.

I wrote it a few years back after receiving a message from a follower who was having a tough day.

We messaged back and forth and I eventually asked them what was on their bucket list.

I wanted to know what they had to look forward to.

I once heard that it’s good to have something to look forward to.

A dinner. A concert. A trip. A new book. Something. Anything.

They told me they had never been to the Grand Canyon.

I told them that I had never seen a moose in the wild.

I still haven’t seen a moose in the wild, but one day I will.

And when I do I’ll find something new to look forward to seeing.

I say all of this to say …

Life is heavy and hard and sometimes it is all the things we don’t want it to be, but it is in those moments that we must remind ourselves there is so much life left to live.

Here is to living.
Here is to continuing.
Here is to believing there is beauty beginning to bloom out of the brokenness.
There is.

There are days when the thought of leaving slips into my mind.

It’s a thought that is dark and far from kind.

And most of the time I wonder how it worked its way to a place that leaves me feeling burdened, blind, and behind.
But I’m fine.

At least that’s what I tell myself from time to time.
But I can’t leave.

I can’t leave because I have yet to see the sun set over and through the redwood trees.

And I can’t leave because I have yet to find rest in the mess and I still have a little something more to give than my best.

And I can’t leave because next Saturday I made plans and I don’t want to be late.

And I can’t leave because I love the way she cooks and part of me wonders at age 74 how I will look.

And as silly as it sounds, I’ve never seen a moose in the wild.

And I want to see a moose in the wild.

And I can’t leave because for as hard as living can be I can’t help but believe there is beauty beginning to bloom out of the brokenness.

I believe there is.

And I am going to see it.

Alright. That’s it.

Long live the Wednesday Poetry Club!

Much love,

Tanner

Website | 📚 Books | On Instagram | On Facebook | ⭐️ Online store

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What is Wednesday Poetry Club?

Wednesday Poetry Club is for poets, readers, and anyone who loves language. It lives entirely on Substack. Every Wednesday, poems are shared, inspiration is sparked, and a sense of community grows.

A few things to clarify about Wednesday Poetry Club:
Some have asked, what time on Wednesday does Poetry Club meet?
There is no time. You just share a poem on Wednesday.
There is no meeting. You just share a poem on Wednesday.

So, it’s really simple?
Yes, we don’t have to complicate everything. Just share a poem and tell people you’re part of a poetry club that shares poetry on Wednesdays.

The whole point of the Wednesday Poetry Club is to write and share poetry. On Wednesday’s we want to flood Substack with poems! So, if you care about poetry and want to be part of something creative and meaningful, you are part of the club.

How do people know I am part of the Wednesday Poetry Club?
We have some logos you can add to your posts or images to show you're part of the club. You can also include this line in your post:

“On Wednesdays, a group of writers share their poems as part of the Wednesday Poetry Club.”

You can also make it part of your Subtitle in your post.

Something like, “Wednesday Poetry Club.”

So it’s really simple?
Yes. Maybe too simple.

Does it cost money?
No. Who has money? It’s free to join and participate. We do have merch, but anyone can just be part of the Wednesday Poetry Club.

How do I join?
Write a poem. Share it on Wednesday. Post in here on Substack. Mention that you’re part of the Wednesday Poetry Club. Tag me if you’d like. Add the logo to your post. Tell people about the club. That’s all it takes. You’re in. You might be writing on your own, but you’re not doing it alone.

What if I miss a Wednesday?
That’s totally okay. This is about showing up when you can and letting poetry be a joy, not a burden. But if you write a poem, why not share it on Wednesday?

Why Wednesdays?
Remember in Mean Girls, when they said, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink”? Well, on Wednesdays we share poems. It’s just what we do. You can wear pink if you’d like.

Also, it’s the middle of the week a little poetry pick-me-up might be just what we need.

So — want in?

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Next Steps

1. Download the logos.

2. Share about the Wednesday Poetry Club on your Notes.

3. Grab some merch.

4. And as always … go write some poetry.