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4 out of 4 stars
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A Song on the Road Home is a delightfully eclectic poetry collection penned by H.N. Lawrence. In the book’s introduction, the author describes a time of loss that set her "on a course of spiritual seeking,” and her poignant poems demonstrate this season of self-discovery. The collection will inspire readers drawn to Lawrence's love of nature, passion for artistic expression, and reflective style.
The flawlessly edited book is 113 pages. Lawrence writes in free verse and possesses an eloquent writing style that seems purposefully uncomplicated without the slightest hint of rambling. Her "exploration of many spiritual modalities" is reflected in her poetry which often refers to the seemingly sacred, including Divine, One, and Soul. Her spiritual poems traverse such themes as peace, nature, love, sorrow, bliss, intimacy, acceptance, and self-exploration.
Lawrence creatively expresses her appreciation of nature's beauty in her poetry. Although she refers to a series of painful losses involving her parents, friends, and beloved animals as the catalyst for the collection, her overall tone conveys a desire to work through her emotions rather than dwell on sadness; this lends a spirit of resiliency to the book that I especially like. The following is a stanza from "Petal":
"Let me bloom forever,
Blazing glory of dissolving
Ashes floating, falling
New flower being born."
"Your Feet" is another one of my favorites:
"Created by Your Hand
This life is nothing
But for Your Grace."
While I appreciate poetry as a genre, it can be quite disappointing to select a book that relies on "creative expression" as an excuse to present sloppy editing or none at all. Sadly, I have reviewed many poetry books that fall into one of these categories, so it is a breath of fresh air to read a lovely collection that conveys heartfelt emotion without sacrificing a professional presentation. Additionally, Lawrence proves that consistently punctuated poetry doesn't necessarily interfere with its meter or flow. There honestly isn't anything I disliked about this book; I didn't note a single error, nor can I highlight any suggestions for improvement.
Therefore, I rate A Song on the Road Home 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend the evocative collection to poetry fans and readers who appreciate meditation. Since it contains no profanity or other content that could be considered objectionable, the book is suitable for young teens who enjoy spiritual poetry. However, the contemplative collection will also engage readers with a more sophisticated taste.
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A Song on the Road Home
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