Home Going: Poetry for a Season

by Carolyn Weber

Home Poetry for a Season is the first print collection of poetry from award winning author Carolyn Weber. Weber weaves together an affinity for place, nature and journey -- both physical and spiritual -- and takes her readers on a diverse path of both landscapes as well as several topical spiritual journeys in the daily life of Christian faith.

This volume includes poems from Weber's previously published digital-only collections, True North and Summering along with 13 new poems.

The poetry in this collection echoes the signature style of Weber's prose in her recent memoir Surprised by Oxford which has been distinguished with multiple international awards, including the Grace Irwin Literary Prize, designated for the 2014 Christian book of the year by a Canadian Author. Christian poetry.

Genres: Poetry

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2015

About the author

Hi I'm Carolyn. I taught literature to undergrads for 15 years, but resigned my tenured position in a ginormous LEAP WITH FAITH (blogpost). When I am not enjoying time with husband and 4 spirited children under 8, I enjoy reading and writing. My previous (even bigger) "leap to faith" is detailed in my book SURPRISED BY OXFORD . You can download a FREE PDF of Ch.1

Reviews

[Kevin Thumpston]

I was first intrigued by Mrs. Weber's writing with Surprised By Oxford. I liked her style so I ventured into this book of poetry. She weaves her poems around every day occurrences. Endearing.

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars, rounded up. My favorites were the poems about motherhood, but I was expecting a bit more from this author.

[Eric Harrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of free verse, and I don't consider a volume or book of poetry to have ever been fully "read". However, Weber's poetry, like her prose, connects us to herself and to the earth around her. She, like Frost, share an intimate love for and connection with the place and nature that they grew up in and that grew up around them. The poem "Not drowning but waving" is one I will commit to memory; it's intense.

[Jenna Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Carolyn writes! I’ve never read a book of poetry, so some of it went over my head. My favorite poems were Mothering and Rivers Edge.

[Kendall Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weber is delightful as always. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weber's prose in Surprised by Oxford is beautifully poetic. Her poems in this collection are like...little sketches of poetic prose - but most of them don't hit me as actual poetry. They are more like the poetry journal entries of a romantic soul - sketchy, yearning, but lacking in a structure or craft that has memorable weight. There are a few gems, like Evergreen, but I was expecting something more finely wrought from someone with her credentials in the world of poetry. But she has a beautiful soul, and the collection shows that, which makes it worth reading, even if I find myself wanting to edit her rhythm structures.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Carolyn's autobiography Surprised by Oxford and this collection of poetry from her did not disappoint. She has the art of seeing not only what appears to be but also what is. From "White Silence" come these words "the holiness of it all/ so loud around me/ that it can only settle into a/ silence unspeakably profound."

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Weber’s poetry both delighted me and stopped me in my tracks, just like her books have. Her words paint beautiful word pictures and reflect profoundly on faith, life, death, redemption, creation, family, and so much more both big and small. This collection begs long lingering and meditation.

[Jasmine Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and poetically formatted book. Each poem has deep meaning and direct correlation to life and scripture. The imagery is pungent yet docile and a sweet read if you’re in a rut.

[Caleb Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Carolyn Weber and her writing, but her poetry is a bit hard to grasp. It tends to be too vague and doesn’t lead to fruitful pondering for my small brain.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from the author through Facebook after an open exchange for a review "swap" . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising]

Home Going is a poetry compilation by Dr. Carolyn Weber from Canada. I make this disclosure because I understand the waiting and the expectation of seasonal change that happens near and around Lake Ontario as I live on the southern side of the same lake.

Dr. Weber's poetry is very personal and very spiritual, about grief and loss and expectation. It is also about celebrating little things like hands, and seeds, and chipmunks and greedy squirrels. And weather in expectation of change, of the mystical in the everyday, and mourning the loss of childhod innocence.

In fact, she speaks directly to that in the preface:" Poetry is where we mourn the dessicration and ache to celebrate the everyday; where we mark tragedy and turn to hope,and where we give voice to the silenced in a busy, loud world. It is the primary vessel, I believe, for serendipity, and an apt nesting place for grace."

Weber is a sincere lover of the numinous, and for that alone, I celebrate her work.

[Elizabeth Millar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Carolyn’s writing makes you smile, ponder, wonder and pray. Themes of seasons and nature are prominent throughout this collection of poetry and remind you that observing a squirrel outside your kitchen window while drinking a cup of coffee can be much more than just that. While anyone will enjoy the references to nature, being a fellow Canadian, I appreciated the local-ness of these poems, also knowing these same trees and animals. Even after one reading, certain lines - artfully crafted and sensitively written - have stuck in my head. Like “a prince in waiting” or “an ark of one” or how about this one - “my life blurs all verb”? Reading these poems feels like a chance to slow down and breathe, a definite Sabbath. It’s a beautiful gift of words - thank you, Carolyn!

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had great expectations of 'Going Home' having been previously inspired by Carolyn Weber's 'Surprised by Oxford' and 'Holy is the Day'.

Blending two of her previously published poetry works (before only available as ebooks) with plenty of new material, it explores the feelings unearthed by a return home after a prolonged absence.

'Going Home' looks at old memories and places afresh with the added dimension that self discovery brings.

It is a sensitive and reflective work. I recommend it.