The poetry in “Seeking Ordinary Joy” tells a story
…one that traces the emotional arc from restlessness and doubt, to healing and happiness—a journey we all travel.
Featured in literary journals
“War Wears Two Faces” — Dulcet (Winter 2025 issue)
“In the Chattering” — Dulcet (Winter 2025 issue)
“Wind and Bear” — Last Leaves (Fall 2024 issue)
“What the BBC Could Not Have Known” — Last Leaves (Fall 2024 issue)
“Time Again” — Raven Review (Winter 2025 issue)
“Bike-packing” — The Dolomite Review (coming in Fall 2026 Issue)
About the author
During my career in advertising I would remind myself there is a human on the other side of the screen, a person who wants to feel heard. I continue to do so as a guest lecturer at UC Irvine where I teach the power of empathy. My writing seeks to make eye-level connections with people through poetry that reframes aspects of life I sometimes take for granted. That was my focus in Seeking Ordinary Joy, which I published in early 2025. I live in the Coachella Valley with my partner Sarah and Bailey, our Labrador, who also wants to feel heard, usually around dinner time.
Reader reviews
★★★★★
“It’s not often that a collection of poetry examines the ordinary aspects of life and yet still inspires with wit, humor, and profound perception. This is a book I pick up and put down with a frequency that I find hard to shake. Murphy shows us that there’s value in the most ordinary things, and through his writing, he has an uncanny way of looking at our collective lives, as if he knows us personally.”
★★★★★
“Wonderfully natural and contemporary thoughts to refresh today’s weary and conflicted.”
★★★★★
“These poems and words are so needed in today’s world. It’s helping me find peace, joy, and acceptance in my day to day moments all while allowing me to feel the full spectrum of the human experience. Def recommend.”
Seeking Ordinary Joy 