as the Sparrow flies
A companion for the ache.
“how do I begin?
how can I even attempt
to name all that has been lost?
I count my losses in the tens of thousands.
and I used to say,
‘I want to love so much that it hurts—’
but I’m tired now.
but as the Sparrow flies—”
Through poetic snapshots from her own life, Grace E. Kelley seeks to catalogue all the multifaceted pains and unexpected joys that come with loving broken beings in a broken world. When distance parts, loss separates, betrayal destroys, and the deep ache required of sacrificial love feels too heavy and holy to bear—let the Sparrow lead the way. Perhaps, it is not so far after all.
Accompanied by exquisite, original artwork by the talented Bethanie Pack, as the Sparrow flies takes the reader on a journey through the nuanced layers of the grief of love. Over distance, through death, and in wounds—discover something Divine amidst all the ache. And perhaps even more importantly, discover that you are not alone.
For the lonely and the grieving.
For the betrayed and the anguished.
For the questioning and the curious.
For the doubter and the mystic.
For those who pray and for those who have forgotten how.
“I am a chaser of sparrows
and I am the Sparrow
and I wrote this for you.”
Here’s what others are saying about as the Sparrow flies—
“This is a beautiful book for the lonely, the grieving, the heartbroken, and those who are healing. As Grace elevates ordinary, everyday experiences of loss and change, friendship and motherhood, we are invited to look life’s painful realities right in the face and see love looking back at us.”
—Christie Purifoy, author of Placemaker and Garden Maker
“We need the poets to help us translate our biggest feelings, our worst days, our highest highs our ugliest doubts. Grace wraps language around the pain of friendship fractures, “she didn’t have time just then / so I let her go/ hot tears in my throat”, the ache of mothering “your roots spread and shred / and break me apart,” and all the colors of love, “Holy is the heart that breaks.” Whatever you’re in the middle of, Grace will keep you company there and help make sense of it.”
—Lisa-Jo Baker, bestselling author of Never Unfriended and co-host of the Out of the Ordinary Podcast
“Grace’s poetry is an invitation as welcoming in form and tone as her warm and abundant kitchen table. Her words meet the lonely, the grieving, the spiritually-doubting with compassion and spaciousness. I cried and breathed deep, reminded by every line that our long nights and weary grocery store strolls, our people-shaped losses and our abundant joys, matter.”
—Sarah Southern, writer of the Substack “Wild & Waste”.
“I read as the Sparrow flies in one sitting, and it is now a new favorite on my shelf. Within these tender pages, I found echoes of my own ache and longing—different in the details, and yet, somehow the same. Grace writes with a wisdom and hope that has been weathered. With every word, she generously holds out her hands, offering us pieces of her humanity. She sits down beside us in the shadows, and with one hand around our shoulders, reminds us how terribly stunning it is to be person and how infinitely we are held.”
—Sarah E. Westfall, author of The Way of Belonging and host of Human Together
“This collection of poems has gripped my heart and won’t let go. Imagine reading the Psalms, in all of their yearning and lament, and then realizing that the writer isn’t speaking of Old Testament armed battles, but modern-day trials that speak to the reader’s experience in new, powerful ways. This was my experience with as the Sparrow flies. As Kelley cries out to God about the loneliness of friendships lost, the trauma of complications in childbirth, conflict within one’s spiritual community, and much more, she gives language to some of life’s deepest heartaches in ways that brought tears to my eyes and healing to my heart. Several times, I audibly gasped, in awe of how Kelley seemed to know my innermost thoughts for which I haven’t yet found words. This poetry is an essential companion for anyone who grieves, anyone who wrestles with God, anyone whose questions feel unanswered. Kelley sits in that in-between space with the reader, giving voice to our most crushing disappointments and then, ever so gently, opening our eyes to the kind, gentle Savior who has never left our side.”
— Ellie Hunja, author of Blessings, New Mom: A Women’s Devotional
“This is, without a doubt, a debut collection of poetry that deftly explores the depths of love, grief, belonging, and faith, with a deep tenderness and skill. If I were to choose a favourite, then, “a friendly face,” would simply have to be the one that reached out to me the most. Her vulnerable description of a young mother, uprooted from her familiar surroundings, walking the aisles of the grocery store simply in search of a friendly face to connect with, moved me deeply. I resonated so deeply with this story. Kelley has the ability to transcend the ordinary details that might separate our stories from those of others with her willingness to be vulnerable, and her desire to be seen through her words. Her words are always upheld by her deep faith, but there is no attempt to make this the spine of her work. She so clearly lives what she believes and draws the reader into each poem without force. A wonderful collection!”
—Liezel Graham, author, poet, & textile artist.
“In this collection of poems, Grace has pulled back the veil from our deepest humanity – our great sorrows and joys – and revealed what is sacred in betrayal and loyalty, death and birth, hope and longing. These poems masterfully weave Divine love into the stuff of this earth – into gardens, breastfeeding babies, and grocery store aisles -and is for anyone who knows the ache of love.”
—Elizabeth Berget, Author & Poet
About the Author
Grace E. Kelley is a follower of Jesus, a wife, and mother of five, including a set of boy/girl twins. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors in Creative Writing and a double emphasis in Poetry and Creative Non-Fiction. She writes poetry and stories—both fictional and non-fictional, and occasionally enjoys the opportunity to speak. She is also a farmer, a foodie, an unrepentant mug addict, and a deep believer that incredible beauty can come from the compost heap.
You can find her writing on her Substack (https://graceekelley.substack.com/). You can also follow her on Instagram and IG threads @graceekelleywrites.
as the Sparrow flies, is her debut collection—a long awaited dream fulfilled.
Grace E. Kelley 