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.
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.”
In the section title “Getting Personal” Patricia wrote a poem based on the many different takes on her name. For example, it begins:
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.
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.
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.
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
- Maggie Reads
- “Take Ten” Interviews with Conversations Book Club
- WordThirst Literary Journal and Authors Showcase Online Radio Show (8:00 pm EST)
April 10 - Shelling Peas
- AAMBC Book Tours
- WrittenVoicesPodcast.com (Poetry Month Feature)
- AAMBC Online Radio Show (8:00pm EST)
April 11 - Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia
Thank you, Maggie, for participating in the Celebrate the South Blog Tour. Many Blessings,
ReplyDeleteTy
You are very welcome, Ty, and it was a joy given the material!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for showcasing my poetry on your blogspot.
ReplyDeleteIt is greatly appreciated!
I am so glad that you enjoyed the poems.
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. :)
ReplyDeleteMaggie!
ReplyDeleteYou are a jewel!!
Again, Thank you so much...for EVERYTHING!
I am so proud to call you my friend!
Well, I'm off to start the tour. I see that you are on it! this will be fun!
ReplyDeleteHave fun Sharon! I like the interview with Sho Nuf Angie. :)
ReplyDelete