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Far From Home: Poems of Faith, Grief and Gladness
Book by Lansdown, Andrew
- GenresPoetry
226 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 8, 2015
Just realised I hadn't put my review of this up, so hear goes.
This book contains such a wealth of stunning poems. Being a fan of Andrew Lansdown’s work over many years, some of the poems in this book are already familiar to me from other publications. 'Boat' in particular is one of my favourites and one I have often used in poetry writing workshops to demonstrate how poem to can be constructed on more than one level. While it is about a boy going out to sea in a boat, it is also about the way the relationship between father and son changes as the boy grows older. 'Grief' and 'I Do not Forget' are poignant poems that will resonate with others.
Others present a fresh view in small imagistic poems that make the reader look at things differently. Haiku and tanka are two favourite forms Andrew Lansdown uses and he packs so much into so few lines. No-one writing in Australia, in my opinion, handles imagery as deftly as Lansdown. His poetry is exquisite.
Some of the other poems, in particular those about the prophet Elijah were new to me. They take the biblical story and give a fresh perspective to it. I was so engrossed in this new perspective on Elijah’s story that I was disappointed when I came to the end and found it had the left the reader at the point where Obadiah meets up with Elijah before his encounter with Ahab. I would have liked to keep reading more of Elijah’s story in this manner. Maybe that’s for another book.
For anyone not familiar with Lansdown's work this would be a good volume to acquaint them with the breadth of Landsown's poetry and the imagistic, lyrical and spiritual qualities always found in his poems. For those who already know his work this is another gem to add to their collection. He has always been able to convey his Christian faith and poetry in a way that even readers and poets who do not share his beliefs can recognise and appreciate the artistry and lyricism of his poetry.
The cover shows a replica of The Caravans- Gypsy Camp by Vincent Van Gogh; an appropriate image given that Lansdown himself is so obviously on a journey to his real home in heaven. Even his simplest imagist poems display his faith in a living creator who wants the best for His children. Like all the books produced by Even before Publishing and Wombat Books this book is beautifully presented – a delight to the eye as well as to the ear. After reading it initially, this book is one I have returned to time after time to dip into.
This book contains such a wealth of stunning poems. Being a fan of Andrew Lansdown’s work over many years, some of the poems in this book are already familiar to me from other publications. 'Boat' in particular is one of my favourites and one I have often used in poetry writing workshops to demonstrate how poem to can be constructed on more than one level. While it is about a boy going out to sea in a boat, it is also about the way the relationship between father and son changes as the boy grows older. 'Grief' and 'I Do not Forget' are poignant poems that will resonate with others.
Others present a fresh view in small imagistic poems that make the reader look at things differently. Haiku and tanka are two favourite forms Andrew Lansdown uses and he packs so much into so few lines. No-one writing in Australia, in my opinion, handles imagery as deftly as Lansdown. His poetry is exquisite.
Some of the other poems, in particular those about the prophet Elijah were new to me. They take the biblical story and give a fresh perspective to it. I was so engrossed in this new perspective on Elijah’s story that I was disappointed when I came to the end and found it had the left the reader at the point where Obadiah meets up with Elijah before his encounter with Ahab. I would have liked to keep reading more of Elijah’s story in this manner. Maybe that’s for another book.
For anyone not familiar with Lansdown's work this would be a good volume to acquaint them with the breadth of Landsown's poetry and the imagistic, lyrical and spiritual qualities always found in his poems. For those who already know his work this is another gem to add to their collection. He has always been able to convey his Christian faith and poetry in a way that even readers and poets who do not share his beliefs can recognise and appreciate the artistry and lyricism of his poetry.
The cover shows a replica of The Caravans- Gypsy Camp by Vincent Van Gogh; an appropriate image given that Lansdown himself is so obviously on a journey to his real home in heaven. Even his simplest imagist poems display his faith in a living creator who wants the best for His children. Like all the books produced by Even before Publishing and Wombat Books this book is beautifully presented – a delight to the eye as well as to the ear. After reading it initially, this book is one I have returned to time after time to dip into.
February 16, 2015
This wonderful collection showcases some of Andrew Lansdown's best poetry. With more than 180 poems, there is something for everyone: from haiku and tanka on nature themes to heart-wrenching poems on grief and loss to insightful poems on Biblical themes.
Lansdown is an expert at saying a lot with a little. Among the shorter works, I especially loved the tanka 'Matter' (p. 145):
"It wouldn't matter
whether I'm merely matter
but for this matter
of the achings that matter
to the part that's not matter."
His poems surrounding the loss of a loved one are particularly poignant. For example:
"It dies quickly, lies lightly like an autumn leaf.
But who knows what winds may flick it up again, this grief?" (From 'Grief', p. 115)
Lansdown is a keen observer of life and a master of metaphor and simile. His poems about family life show his deep love for his wife and children and his spiritual poems show a depth and thoughtfulness that draw the reader in.
The book concludes with a 32-poem suite inspired by the Biblical record of the Prophet Elijah. I found the sequence dealing with the widow of Zarephath and her son particularly moving. As the poems change from the point of view of Elijah, the widow and her son, I found myself thinking about the story in new ways. It's amazing how much the poet was able to glean from three chapters of scripture. The poems end before Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, which made me wonder if there are more poems in the works.
Not only is this a fine collection of poetry, but it's also beautifully presented and would make a wonderful gift. A book to dip into again and again.
Lansdown is an expert at saying a lot with a little. Among the shorter works, I especially loved the tanka 'Matter' (p. 145):
"It wouldn't matter
whether I'm merely matter
but for this matter
of the achings that matter
to the part that's not matter."
His poems surrounding the loss of a loved one are particularly poignant. For example:
"It dies quickly, lies lightly like an autumn leaf.
But who knows what winds may flick it up again, this grief?" (From 'Grief', p. 115)
Lansdown is a keen observer of life and a master of metaphor and simile. His poems about family life show his deep love for his wife and children and his spiritual poems show a depth and thoughtfulness that draw the reader in.
The book concludes with a 32-poem suite inspired by the Biblical record of the Prophet Elijah. I found the sequence dealing with the widow of Zarephath and her son particularly moving. As the poems change from the point of view of Elijah, the widow and her son, I found myself thinking about the story in new ways. It's amazing how much the poet was able to glean from three chapters of scripture. The poems end before Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, which made me wonder if there are more poems in the works.
Not only is this a fine collection of poetry, but it's also beautifully presented and would make a wonderful gift. A book to dip into again and again.
October 1, 2024
A peaceful and introspective book of poems ranging from narrative to metaphorical. I don’t often read poetry but I got a lot out of it.
I read this while “far from home” myself in California for a work/holiday trip.
I read this while “far from home” myself in California for a work/holiday trip.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews