Books
What Was and Is: Formal Poetry and Free Verse (2024)
Theresa Werba's best poetry
A unique collection of the best of Theresa Werba’s work over the last forty years. In it she explores such diverse issues as love, loss, faith, disillusionment, neurodivergence, historical figures and events, and the creative process. She is able to skillfully render such poetic forms as the sonnet, villanelle, ode, pantoum, terza rima, and nonce forms, in addition to easily crossing over into the world of free verse. She thus bridges the gap between these two normally opposing and segregated schools of poetry.
“Werba goes from free verse to villanelle to sonnet with ease and mixes her subjects with acute observation and skill.”
Lynette G. Esposito, North of Oxford
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Sonnets (2020)
A collection of sixty-five sonnets
In this powerful collection of sonnets Theresa Werba explores a myriad of topics including the creative process, love and loss, faith and disillusionment, human frailty, and aging, in the Shakespearean, Spenserian, and Petrarchan sonnet forms. This is a must-have collection for anyone who loves formal poetry in general and the sonnet in particular.
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“In fourteen lines, her sonnets in particular are able to communicate what takes essayists and writers thousands of words.”
Evan Mantyk, President, the Society of Classical Poets
When Adoption Fails: Abuse, Autism, and the Search of My Indentity (2001)
"A poignant, personal tale"
When Adoption Fails: Abuse, Autism, and the Search for My Identity is the story of Theresa Werba, an undiagnosed autistic adoptee who endured an abusive adoptive home, several identity changes, a disinheritance, and the discovery of her biological mother and father.
“Both adoption professionals and those in the adoption triad can benefit from the peculiar revelations of this frank, passionate journey.”
Damsel Plum, former Publications Chair, Bastard Nation
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Warning Signs of Abuse (2014)
A practical and encouraging guidebook
Theresa Werba was in an abusive marriage for twenty-one years. She is writing to help other women escape the entanglement of an abusive relationship before it becomes more difficult or dangerous.
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Honestly and beautifully written, deeply helpful and a loving read. "
Carla Christopher, Arts and Cultural Community Liaison for York City, Director of PoemSugar Press, Host of "Culture and Main: York's Cultural Showcase" on WRCT
Longer Thoughts (2020)
An eclectic mix
Theresa Werba's third book of poetry explores issues such as aging, faith versus doubt, disillusionment, love, longing, loss, and the art of poetry. It contains a combination of forms such as the sonnet, triolet, villanelle, rondeau, and ode in addition to free verse. Her work of naked honesty is a revelation of a woman's heart, soul, and spirit. Under the name Theresa Rodriguez.
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"While mastering classical poetry, Theresa Werba expresses the deepest emotions; she reigns whether settings are in the past or present, leaving us in awe."
Carol Smallwood, interviewer, editor, literary judge, author of Patterns: Moments in Time (Word Poetry, 2019)
Jesus and Eros: Sonnets, Poems and Songs (2105)
Three types of poetry
Theresa Werba's first book of poetry is a gleaning and winnowing of the work of her poetry over thirty years. In Jesus and Eros: Sonnets, Poems and Songs, Werba wishes to deliberately offer three types of poetry and chose not to categorize by theme but by type.
Werba is taking the definition of "eros" from C.S. Lewis, who describes eros as the state of "being in love" as opposed to sexual or carnal love, to which he ascribes the more archaic rendering of "Venus". She chooses, therefore, a deliberate juxtaposition of devout Christian ideology with the heat and heart of honest and naked human feelings.
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”In these poems, especially in the sonnets, we find poems that are heart-breaking, sometimes a bit shocking or grotesque, seldome gentle, but always a full bore attack on the subject at hand. They are the product of a magnificent poet. “
Bob Wood, Historian , Studio B