I came to be free
Poems on grief, love, and renewal · PJ Starling
Finding a passage…
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The poems
All nine, in full. Tap any stanza to make a card of it.
Read the poem
As the light is a star
You thirst because
You’re made of water
And you love as a Son
Who is loved by his Father
For love has an
Unbroken chain of command
From atom to planet
From brain to the hand
Love is a force
That loves all the same
Love is a constant
Putting gravity to shame
Loving can increase
By loving itself
As ants gather sugar
Calling more in to help
Love gathers love
To reap what it sows
Love is the violin
And also the bow
Love is a name
For something that’s felt
Love’s the transaction
And also the wealth
Love’s the one thing
That cannot be bought
And love’s always free
So it matters not
Love is a word
That was whispered and hushed
For love slows the hurried
When their progress is rushed
Love shines a light
On what love is not
And brings back the memory
Of things long forgot
Love is the food
That’s needed to live
As food is the love
The Great Mother will give
Love can increase
But never reduce
Love’s never war
But always the truce
Love is coherent
And love is dramatic
Love is like music
Rising up through the static
Love is a feeling
A feeling that stays
A feeling you keep
Past the last of your days
Love you can keep
For love’s what you are
As the note is the music
As the light is a star
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The book
Using original metaphor and lyrical language, PJ Starling examines the deepest sorrows and the greatest triumphs of the human experience — the struggle to forgive oneself for past wrongs, the search for hope amidst the chaos of the modern world, and the desire for true intimacy.
Nine poems. 42 pages. These heartfelt verses invite readers into a space where they are seen and free to feel without judgment.
Buying direct from FriesenPress supports a Canadian author most. ISBN 978-1-03-837224-6 (paperback) · 978-1-03-837225-3 (hardcover) · 978-1-03-837226-0 (eBook)
About PJ Starling
PJ Starling lives in Vancouver, BC, with his nine-year-old son. I came to be free is his second book of poetry. His poem “Where light never goes” was featured by The Art of Autism, an organization that showcases the creative abilities of neurodivergent individuals.
For him, writing poetry is a form of therapy that has helped him through periods of change in his life. He hopes his poems will do the same for his readers.
Contact PJ Starling: readings@starlingpoetry.xyz
Author photograph by Marshal Chupa
Invite me to read
Libraries, bookstores, reading series, classes, book clubs. I'd like to come.
- Vancouver and the Lower Mainland — in person, gladly.
- Anywhere at all — online, by video. Book clubs and classes welcome.
- Elsewhere in BC or Canada — if travel is covered.
There's no fee to have me. An honorarium is welcome if you have one, and entirely optional if you don't.
I don't pay to appear. Any “invitation” that asks me for a placement, promotion, or booking fee is a scam — there's a lot of it about, impersonating real festivals. Genuine hosts never charge the poet.
This form is handled by Web3Forms and emailed to me. I don't use your details for anything else. If the form won't play, write to readings@starlingpoetry.xyz.