“You won’t soon read a more beautiful book, nor one so earthy, wise, delicious, and alive. This is not a book about fish or rivers or Montana or parenting. This is a book, to paraphrase another poet, plain and simple, to break open the frozen sea within.”—Rick Bass















I have been waiting years to have this conversation with author, poet, and fly-fishing guide Chris Dombrowski. There is a kinship I feel with Chris’s lens on life. He is a top-shelf writer to boot.



The River You Touch: Making a Life on Moving Water comes out October 11th, 2022. I have read it and pre-ordered multiple copies for friends and family. If you are a longtime listener, you know I do not ever do a hard sell. Buy this book for yourself. And another for any friend who seeks to live a mindful and creative life in the throes of responsibility to family, self, community, and a little plot of land on the planet. Published by the fine folks at Milkweed Editions, they will ship The River You Touch for free when your order from milkweed.org before October 11th, 2022.



Alright, I am getting off my soapbox. 



Chris Dombrowski is a poet, author, teacher, and fly-fishing guide. His nonfiction debut, Body of Water: A Sage, A Seeker, and the World’s Most Alluring Fish (Milkweed Editions, 2016), was hailed in The New York Times Book Review and drew comparisons to Gary Snyder and John McPhee in the Wall Street Journal; and Orion magazine called it “a spiritual memoir in the tradition of Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek“. I loved Body of Water and I think Dombrowski’s latest book, The River You Touch is even better. It runs its hands through the currents of place, vocation, creativity, and community. In our conversation Chris and I talk about parenting, the calling of a place, poetry of children, accepting the complex humanity of mentors, and the intricacies of sparkling water. 



Buy this book. You will reread it and gift it to those who understand that “in a life properly lived, you are a river”*. 



Visit Chris’s website at cdombrowski.com to keep tabs on his work in the worldFollow Chris on social media: @dombrowski_chris



Previous Contemplify episodes with Chris Dombrowski:



Chris Dombrowski: Part One (Of the Invisible | Poetry Series #1)Chris Dombrowski: Part Two (Of the Invisible #2)Backporch Advent Outpost with Chris Dombrowski (#2)















Episode Show Notes



Books by Chris Dombrowski



The River You Touch: Making a Life on Moving WaterBody of Water: A Sage, A Seeker, and the World’s Most Alluring FishRagged AnthemEarth Againby cold water







Resources & People Mentioned



BashoZen Roots translated by Red PineJeffrey FoucaultBilly ConwayMorphineOld Path, White Cloud by Thich Nhat HanhDan Gerber Buddha Mind, Buddha Body by Thich Nhat HanhMilkweed EditionsLight Years by James SalterLet the Great World Spin by Colum McCannBelievers by Lisa WellsBarry LopezJerry DennisMandy SmokerA Holy Terror Dancing with Light: On Jim Harrison by Joy WilliamsTodd DavisJim HarrisonDavid James DuncanDebra Magpie EarlingPerma Red by Debra Magpie EarlingThe Last Journals of Sacajawea by Debra Magpie EarlingMeditations from a movable chair by Andre Dubus







Drink Recommendation



Topo Chico Sparkling Water















Photo respectfully pulled from Milkweed Editions*a quote respectfully pulled from Jim Harrison

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