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Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manager Wails Her Blues: Poems
The authenticity of Julene Tripp Weaver's experience as an AIDS case manager-and her commitment to doing what she can-form the resolute backbone of this collection. She acknowledges all that is outside her power to heal or hold, and so asks the necessary what can we offer each other at the too-soon end of life?
- GenresPoetry
30 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2007
About the author
Julene Tripp Weaver
14 books65 followersJulene Tripp Weaver, a psychotherapist and writer in Seattle, has four poetry collections; Slow Now With Clear Skies (MoonPath Press, 2024); truth be bold—Serenading Life & Death in the Age of AIDS (Finishing Line Press, 2017), which won the Bisexual Book Award in 2018, four Indie Press Awards, and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards; No Father Can Save Her, (Plain View Press, 2011), and a chapbook, Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manager Wails Her Blues, (Finishing Line Press, 2007).
Her poems have appeared in HEAL, Autumn Sky Poetry, The Seattle Review of Books, Poetry Super Highway, As it Ought To Be, Feels Blind, and elsewhere. Anthologies include: Poets Speaking to Poets: Echoes and Tributes, Rumors Secrets & Lies: Poems about Pregnancy, Abortion & Choice, and I Sing the Salmon Home.
Her poems have appeared in HEAL, Autumn Sky Poetry, The Seattle Review of Books, Poetry Super Highway, As it Ought To Be, Feels Blind, and elsewhere. Anthologies include: Poets Speaking to Poets: Echoes and Tributes, Rumors Secrets & Lies: Poems about Pregnancy, Abortion & Choice, and I Sing the Salmon Home.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 15, 2008
Julene Tripp Weaver's chapbook of poetry is stunning, powerful and deeply affecting. The portraits of the difficult-to-treat people who comprise the "cases" of AIDS with whom the author has engaged are etched with a careful craftswoman's hand. Most of the "gritty" aspiring street poetry in the world can't compare to these simple, unaffected stories from the front line. These well-crafted poems will move fellow-artists, health workers and lay people alike. I couldn't recommend them more highly.
July 9, 2008
I'm reposting my review from March 5, 2008 http://www.hercircleezine.com
Finishing Line Press, 2007
Review by GA. A. Banks-Martin
The True Portrait of AIDS
Julene Tripp Weaver first studied Creative writing at City University of New York before moving to Seattle where she received her Masters in Applied Behavioral Science from The Leadership Institute of Settle. Since that time she has become a passionate practitioner of Continuum, a movement whose central tenet teaches we are a whole connected to everything in the world transcending time, space and condition. She applies this teaching to her work as an HIV/AIDS case manager, and it is evident in her collection of poems, Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manger Wails Her Blues, a unique book where individuals confront death while reminding us that people with HIV/AIDS are just as much a part of humanity as those suffering the effects of any other condition.
To most people the typical AIDS suffer is excessively thin, homosexual, intravenous drug user, and or a prostitute, their humanity and life details are dismissed. Television may allow us to see a sick man, check into the hospital but almost never tells us that no one visits him, no one sends cards, and no one brings him a Christmas tree. We never know he expected to get better, that he passed away with only a picture of himself when he was a beautiful women, or that his name was Rick.
Weekly news magazines do well with teaching us that expecting mothers can pass HIV/AIDS on to both their unborn and infant children but lately it seems such cases occur mostly in Africa. Rarely has a reporter told the story of Barb and Dori, we are introduced during a party, Barb sings, shows baby pictures of daughter, declares that the now, nearly, 20 year old is beautiful despite having cut off her pony tails, despite her being short, despite her positive HIV status but what is truly beautiful is that Barb takes full responsibility / for this child she bore/ with HIV.
Case Walking: An Aids Case Manager Wails Her Blues is populated by those whom we expect to find: homeless people, people addicted to illegal injectables, and a broken system, but what makes the collection remarkable is that without making excuses for behavior; without making religious or moral condemnations, Julene Tripp Weaver shows us the intimate details of her clients lives, making them everyday people who share the emotions, dreams and desires common to all. It is difficult to read How often Do You Change Your sheets, which focuses on a heroin addict who can’t find housing due to his criminal record but says he will change his sheets every day/once he has an apartment simply because there is nothing/like getting into bed between clean sheets, and be unable relate to his desire for a place of his own, an a clean bed to sleep upon.
Finishing Line Press, 2007
Review by GA. A. Banks-Martin
The True Portrait of AIDS
Julene Tripp Weaver first studied Creative writing at City University of New York before moving to Seattle where she received her Masters in Applied Behavioral Science from The Leadership Institute of Settle. Since that time she has become a passionate practitioner of Continuum, a movement whose central tenet teaches we are a whole connected to everything in the world transcending time, space and condition. She applies this teaching to her work as an HIV/AIDS case manager, and it is evident in her collection of poems, Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manger Wails Her Blues, a unique book where individuals confront death while reminding us that people with HIV/AIDS are just as much a part of humanity as those suffering the effects of any other condition.
To most people the typical AIDS suffer is excessively thin, homosexual, intravenous drug user, and or a prostitute, their humanity and life details are dismissed. Television may allow us to see a sick man, check into the hospital but almost never tells us that no one visits him, no one sends cards, and no one brings him a Christmas tree. We never know he expected to get better, that he passed away with only a picture of himself when he was a beautiful women, or that his name was Rick.
Weekly news magazines do well with teaching us that expecting mothers can pass HIV/AIDS on to both their unborn and infant children but lately it seems such cases occur mostly in Africa. Rarely has a reporter told the story of Barb and Dori, we are introduced during a party, Barb sings, shows baby pictures of daughter, declares that the now, nearly, 20 year old is beautiful despite having cut off her pony tails, despite her being short, despite her positive HIV status but what is truly beautiful is that Barb takes full responsibility / for this child she bore/ with HIV.
Case Walking: An Aids Case Manager Wails Her Blues is populated by those whom we expect to find: homeless people, people addicted to illegal injectables, and a broken system, but what makes the collection remarkable is that without making excuses for behavior; without making religious or moral condemnations, Julene Tripp Weaver shows us the intimate details of her clients lives, making them everyday people who share the emotions, dreams and desires common to all. It is difficult to read How often Do You Change Your sheets, which focuses on a heroin addict who can’t find housing due to his criminal record but says he will change his sheets every day/once he has an apartment simply because there is nothing/like getting into bed between clean sheets, and be unable relate to his desire for a place of his own, an a clean bed to sleep upon.
January 30, 2010
I loved reading this book. It has a consistent, strong thread of love and compassion that is present in every single poem. The poems in the chapbook are exquisitely arranged to tell a story that needs to be heard. I have the feeling that I have become a better person just by reading Julene's book.
June 28, 2008
Julene Weaver captures the essence of being an HIV/AIDS case manager-the frustration, the joy, the pain. She gives voice to those who can't always speak for themselves.I look forward to her next book.
September 27, 2008
A very important book about subjects discussed and expanded by well crafted poems
June 28, 2008
I wrote this book!! I love seeing my book on Amazon, better yet when I get your feedback!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews