Thursday, April 09, 2009

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia


April is National Poetry Month and in celebration I have joined the Celebrate the South Blog Tour. Y'all know I'm all about the South, but did you know I have a secret affinity for poetry? That’s right! I’m poetry in motion. Bah! How can I even say that with a straight face!

Celebrate the South Blog Tour features poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey’s new book Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems. Her's is a good life! The poems are upbeat, bouncy at times, and make me proud to be a Mississippian. They are positive to the core, even the “Right to Vote” which is her parents struggle to check the ballot in Tupelo, Mississippi. It might easily lean to the bitter, but the last stanza of the poem affirms the positive:

It seems almost incredulous
That this was how it was;
But, believe you me, no matter what,
I vote, now, just because.

At times I hear past U.S. Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, in her voice. It is amongst her shorter poems, he stands out such as “Turning 40.”

When I turn 40,
I felt so brand new;
I bought a bikini,
And got a tattoo;
For some unknown reason,
I felt more alive;
I can’t imagine what’ll happen,
When I turn 45.

In the section title “Getting Personal” Patricia wrote a poem based on the many different takes on her name. For example, it begins:

Patty, Patty Cake, Patsy,
Tisha, Trisha, Trish;
I've got more names that I am called,
I can't even begin to list.

In this poem titled, “Name Calling,” I want to add two more deserved monikers. She should be called Magnolia after the title of her book; although, I shorten it gladly to Maggie.

Y'all may visit Pat at her blog or purchase her book through Amazon. For more information on her book, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, visit other blogs on the tour.

BLOG TOUR

April 5 - Preaching Sunday

April 6 - Southern Life

April 7 - Mississippi Morning

April 8 - Southern Man

April 9 - Soul Food Restaurant
April 10 - Shelling Peas

April 11 - Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia

7 comments:

Tyora Moody said...

Thank you, Maggie, for participating in the Celebrate the South Blog Tour. Many Blessings,
Ty

maggie moran said...

You are very welcome, Ty, and it was a joy given the material!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for showcasing my poetry on your blogspot.
It is greatly appreciated!
I am so glad that you enjoyed the poems.

maggie moran said...

The word needs to get out and I plan on doing an article next week for the NW MS newspapers, Pat! (RE: Name Calling ~ I hope I'm a Mississippi friend!) ;D I'm also going to post something on another blog I'm involved in. I hope this helps sales. :)

Unknown said...

Maggie!
You are a jewel!!
Again, Thank you so much...for EVERYTHING!
I am so proud to call you my friend!

Sharon said...

Well, I'm off to start the tour. I see that you are on it! this will be fun!

maggie moran said...

Have fun Sharon! I like the interview with Sho Nuf Angie. :)