The Heart's Time: A Poem a Day for Lent and Easter

by Janet Morley

A day by day Lent book aimed at the individual reader, in which a poem appropriate to the themes of the season is read, along with a short reflection from the editor and a couple of questions to ponder. The purpose is to use a poetic text as the basis for 'slow reflection' during Lent and Eastertide.

Genres: Poetry, Theology

161 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this just as much as Janet Morley’s Advent compilation. Her poetry choices are so good. Most of the poems were new to me even if the poet was familiar. Janet’s reflections on the poems each day are brief but packed with good insights into the poems and the Lenten and Easter themes that emerge from the poems. I feel sad to be done with this collection and may keep it out for a while to revisit some of my favorite poems.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one - going to miss reading a poem every morning as it is a great way to start the day. Was a good idea to take up reading poems rather than giving something up for Lent as well.

Have to admit that there were some poems that I wouldn’t have got without the excellent explanatory notes that came after each. Does anyone know of other poetry collections that have notes explaining the poems as I’d be keen to read more but need some help?

Highly recommend reading this and the author’s other poetry collection, "Haphazard by Starlight" at Easter and Christmas time respectively.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this devotional as much as Morley's Advent devotional! I enjoyed that this one went all the way through the octave of Easter. The themes and reflections were thoughtful and stuck with me through the week. I love how Morley lets her inner poetry nerd speak! Her insights help me understand the poems better every time, especially when she refers to other poems in the book and connects or contrasts them. Highly recommended, wish she would do a year-round set like Sarah Arthur!

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The source of #LentBookClub, now finished, all done, and blogged in the usual place.
There were some good poems in this little piece, and some thought provoking ones, especially those from ee cummings and RS Thomas, as well as a happy Christina Rosetti (never thought I'd say that); Denise Levertov was a new one; Kei Miller is always worth reading.
All these poems have had things written on them by Janet Morley. Some you will love, some you take issue with. Some have the right level of spirituality, some can be somewhat contrived (hence the four stars not five!). But as a Lent book this is a good one. You can have a good level of discussion on each poem, and possibly a good old argument too. But then "iron sharpens iron" as Proverbs tells us. And you will be a better person for at least reading the collection and thinking about your place in the universe.
There are two unexpected bonuses. One is that there is no poem on Sunday. Go out and do something else! Second is that the poems stretch for a week after Easter Day, so there is that feeling that having gone through Lent, Easter is not the end but the beginning of life... as Christine Rosetti puts it on the last Friday " the birthday of my life is come because my love has come to me".

[Susan Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm terribly sad to have finished this book. It has been a gentle companion throughout Lent. I've been introduced to new poets and poems and thoughts and all with careful guidance and suggestions - which I've appreciated. Poetry is a new love of mine - I'd often thought it complicated or perhaps too highbrow for little me. At times whilst reading this book I've not quite got what the poet was trying to get across to me so I found the careful nudging from Janet Morely helpful - she hints, suggests, and throws in new or extra information that get your own brain ticking. I'll definitely picking up her Advent book later this year.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-hearts-time-ed-janet-morley/

This is a devotional book, not my usual genre, with a poem for every day of Lent (other than Sunday) and for the week after Easter, plus a page or two of reflection and spiritual challenge for the reader. I was reading it two months late, and perhaps am not the target audience, but I did enjoy discovering a few more poems.

[Katie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book during Lent before but this year I got a lot more out of it, perhaps because I was in a better place to receive it. If you like poetry and want to go deeper during Lent this is the book for you.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who really failed in poetry appreciation at school, Janet’s thoughtful reflections on a series of poems have made this book a go to companion for me through Lent

[Danielle Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading through the poems and devotional for Lent. There were some poems that really spoke to me and some I did not connect with, but that is the way of poetry.

[MR STEPHEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have used this book every Lent and Easter for several years. Despite the growing familiarity, it has not grown stale. In fact, many of the poems have become firm favourites. This and the companion volume, Haphazard by Starlight, which covers Advent, are in my all-time top picks.

[Marsali Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful selection of poems, one a day for Lent and the first week of Easter, ranging in time from John Donne to Margaret Atwood. Each poem has a couple of pages of commentary, partly analysis of the poem, partly meditations on the poem's themes. A wonderful book to help you spend a short time in prayer each day.

[Davidg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a wonderful Lent book, with a poem a day. Jenet Morley's detailed comments on the structure and language of each poem are very helpful and then she brings out the theological questions the poem is asking. It has been a very challenging read over this season questions.

[Emma Tiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful selection of poems that take you on a journey through Lent, to Holy week and beyond, to a life after Easter.
The reflection offered by Janet Morley each day is, for me, just the right combination of thought provoking and explanatory, and really helped me ponder the poems more deeply.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful way to journey through Lent & Easter. I can see this book becoming my companion for many years to come.