Always a Springtime

by Helen Steiner Rice

1987 Guideposts hardcover, Helen Steiner Rice (Daily Pathways). Collected here are sensitive poems, filled with hope, because they spring from the heart of a poet who counts hope and faith as intimate friends. - Google Books

Genres: Poetry, Religion

95 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1987

Reviews

[Jocelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried, but I just didn't enjoy this poetry. The rhyming seemed rather juvenile. Even when I found a poem that had a somewhat decent start to it, she just kept going until it was overkill. Also, there was excessive use of quotation marks, as if she was afraid we wouldn’t know she was talking figuratively. The quotation marks just ended up being a distraction that took away from the mood she was trying to create.

The poems were very God-centered, which can be okay, but these felt more like it was being shoved down my throat than it felt reverent and worshipping. She paints a picture of the world as a sinful place filled with pride and greed. That’s just not how I prefer to see things. I prefer a more optimistic view of the world, even if there is evil; I like to focus on the things of beauty.

Maybe it just wasn’t my type of poetry. I think I like poetry that uses older language and focuses on different themes other than just God. Whatever it was, it wasn’t my favorite.

[Rick Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm definitely not the target audience for this book, which belonged to my mother-in-law, so readers specifically looking for some comforting poetry from a Christian perspective may get more out of this.

There are two sections here, the first focused on the power of prayer, and the second specifically addressing grief and dying, making frequent use of the springtime metaphor. The religious aspects are Christian, but fairly nondenominational, mostly simply referencing God, with only occasional bits that are more specifically about Jesus. There isn't really any political or controversial material aside from a couple of quick references to the concepts of false prophets. It also places an emphasis on humility, which was the theme that I found most interesting in the poems.

The poetry is all rhyming verse, and the frequent use of cliche phrases to complete a rhyme tended to make me inclined to skim over sections. Where there were good ideas and images, the poet tended to dilute them in the need to keep the rhyme scheme going.

[Guthrie Veech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a poetry reader but loved this book that came from my mom.

[Buffy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second Helen Steiner Rice book that I've read, and it was published the year I was born. I previously read her "Somebody Loves You" and read up on Helen Steiner Rice and the HSR Foundation. 🌟
This book was organized nicely into subsections and it included two poems that I was pretty sure were about child loss and I've never seen that before. "The Tiny Rosebud God Picked To Bloom In Heaven" and "God Needed An Angel In Heaven" are the two poems I thought were child loss themed. 💔
Alot of Helen Steiner Rice's poems are about prayer. I never really thought about the fact that God already knows what is on your heart before you pray and what your needs are. She also makes alot of comparison to spring and the resurrection/Christ's resurrection, which is another concept I never thought about before. 🌼
Helen Steiner Rice also includes that "Heaven has no night," which I never considered. I related alot to the section on grief. All poems were beautifully written and I enjoyed them.

"And in the Dark World, I am the Light, To the Promised Land, where there is no Night." 🕯

[Diana Gotsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started reading these poems in earnest on Palm Sunday. Finished them on Saturday before Easter. By reading a couple at a time I found they made a perfect source for meditation during Holy Week. The first and larger part of the book is more a group of prayers than poems. They covered a wide range of topics from noticing Gods gifts to us to asking for His forgiveness. The second smaller section was poems about death, grief and resurrection. Good topics for Holy Week. Although they did become a little repetitive. There are only so many ways you can look at these subjects.

Not for everyone. Very Christian in their perspective but good for the way I wanted to use them.