Book + Beverage — Spring 2024
THE BOOK:
THE TWO HEARTS INSIDE US
BY JILL BURKEY
Published by Lithic Press, The Two Hearts Inside Us by Jill Burkey asks questions of seedlings and sandstone, canyons and coal, and explores the joy and heartbreak of being alive. From the rugged landscapes of the West to a park bench in the fall, the author’s own kitchen and a snowy road in January, the book immerses readers in places and moments in time that Burkey captures in her approachable style, uniquely conveying a world of meaning in a few words.
“[My] poems invite readers to slow down and enjoy ordinary moments in life that sometimes turn out to be extraordinary,” Burkey says.
In “Beginning Mind,” which won the Mark Fischer Poetry Prize, Burkey writes about giving her son a ride to kindergarten and the poetic questions he asks, ending with his wise words about the past and future. Another poem, “Why We Went to the Desert,” describes symbols of strength in the desert that Burkey hopes her daughter will see and carry with her: “But most of all, I longed for her to witness / how a little creek can push back big boulders …”
Several of Burkey’s poems venture into the spiritual realm. “White Space” begins with the stanza below and ends by asking readers to reflect on what the last line of their lives will bring.
“The most important part of a poem, said Li-Young Lee, is the white space between the stanzas, and the silence that rises when the last line is read.”
The book ends with a piece titled “It’s Animal,” in which Burkey expresses the beauty and sadness of being a parent (the title was taken from a line of a poem by Ellen Bass, one of her favorite poets).
You can find The Two Hearts Inside Us at Lithic Bookstore in Fruita, Out West Books in Grand Junction and at jillburkey.com, where the author also sells greeting cards, poetry prints, bookmarks, stickers and coasters.
THE BEVERAGE:
LAST WORD COCKTAIL
Burkey says two drinks pair perfectly with her book: either your favorite local wine, which will go particularly well with her poem “Incandescence,” or the Last Word Cocktail, which pairs wonderfully with “White Space.”
“Words are so important in poetry and in life: the last word of a poem, the last word one speaks to a loved one for the day or forever,” Burkey says. “Make it count!”
LAST WORD COCKTAIL (JILL BURKEY’S VERSION)
SERVES 2
1½ ounces gin (Burkey’s favorite is Martin Miller’s Gin)
1½ ounces maraschino cherry liqueur (such as Luxardo)
1 ounce Dolin’s Génépy le Chamois (or green Chartreuse liqueur if you can find it)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 Luxardo maraschino cherries
1. Chill two coupe, martini or Manhattan glasses.
2. Pour all ingredients (except cherries) into a cocktail shaker. Add ice, cover and shake.
3. Place a cherry in each glass and strain drink evenly into glasses. If desired, add ice.
Originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Spoke+Blossom.