Wynne Huddleston's Poetry:::::::::::::: Finding Small Beauty

Tuesday's Small Beauty, March 6, 2012

2012-03-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

Tuesday’s Small Beauty

Chocolate Cows knee-deep in Easter basket grass.

Tuesday's Small Beauty Feb. 28, 2012

2012-02-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday’sSmall Beauty

photo by Wynne Huddleston 2011

Blackbirds find shelter from the rain

Natasha Trethewey, Our New Mississippi Poet Laureate

2012-02-13T16:38:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote about the lovely and talented Natasha Trethewey after meeting her at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS for a book-signing and reading. I'm especially glad that I got to meet her because our former Governor Barbour appointed her our new Poet Laureate after the passing of Winifred Farrar. Although she doesn't reside in Mississippi she was born here, and is well qualified. Mississippi is known for great writers, as well as musicians. I look forward to seeing more of her here in our state.

The Harsh and The Heart Free Jan 3 on Kindle

2012-01-02T22:03:00.001-08:00

The Harsh and The Heart will be a free download for Kindle from tonight 12 midnight, Pacific time, to 12 midnight Tuesday. My poem. What's Really Missing, is in this anthology honoring the military. You should be able to search for the title on Amazon during those hours and see the free download offer. Right now, you see the title offered as a free temporary file to folks who are signed up for Amazon Prime, but the one-day free download is something separate.

if you don't own a Kindle but would like to have the book on your computer, smart phone or ipad, this link tells you how to get Kindle content for those devices:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

--
Becky Haigler
Editor/Partner, Silver Boomer Books http://silverboomerbooks.com/
Author, not so GRIMM: gentle fables and cautionary tales http://laughingcactuspress.com/books.html#grimm

My Favorite Things at Christmas

2011-12-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

As a child I loved songs from the Sound of Music. One of my favorites was "My Favorite Things." I was pleased to hear it on the Glee Christmas episode. It's the little things that I love at Christmas time-- singing carols with the lonely elderly at a nursing home and at Christmas parties with friends. Santa in his sleigh at the end of the Christmas parade. My red-bordered Christmas dishes with the snowman couple painted in the center. The twinkle of the lights on the tree. Special ornaments like Baby's First Christmas and the crystal angel at the top. Watching movies like A Christmas Story or Rudolph once again. Playing Santa's helper to make sure a needy child has presents Christmas morning. The velvet petals of a deep red poinsettia. Kisses under the mistletoe shot out of an oak tree. A wayward baby lamb in the pre-school Nativity play. The light in a child's eyes when they open a present. Extended family gathered at Grandparents' house to share Christmas dinner, vow to visit more often and hold the newest baby. Rarely here, delicate snowflakes icing the black branches of a pine tree. Snuggling in front of the glowing fireplace decked with garland and stockings. An unexpected gift (there's always one every year). This year it was a snow white calf birthed by my son's cow on Christmas Day.

When it's all over-- the shiny gift paper and bows trashed, the food devoured, the candles blown out, the decorations put away-- the one thing that will remain are the memories. Memories of how our family celebrated Christmas. I hope our grandchildren will fondly remember our traditions every Christmas to come... and that they will make them their own favorite things.

What are your favorite traditions?

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

2011-12-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

The lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas carols, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on December 25th 1864. At this time, Longfellow was had gotten word that his son had suffered a crippling injury in the Civil War. He was also still mourning the death of his wife who had died when her dress caught on fire a few years earlier. Longfellow himself was burned trying to save her. Heartbroken, he was unable to attend the funeral and never shaved again. (See the tragic story here). Although the poem reflects the sorrow Longfellow was feeling, he ended on a hopeful note, lines which bring me to tears. Two of the seven stanzas which concern the Civil War are missing from the song and the remaining five stanzas were altered in 1872 by songwriter John Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905). Ironically Calkin's melody was the 1848 American militant hymn, "Fling Out the Banner! Let It Float" by George Washington Doane (1799-1859). I personally prefer this melody over the more popular one by Johnny Marks which is published in The Reader's Digest "Merry Christmas" Songbook. After days of searching for anything close to the original melody I found this one. It even shows the lyrics!

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

The omitted stanzas:

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Christmas Giveaways

2011-12-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

There I was, liking pages gallore and suddenly I was winning things. I didn't even know I'd entered anything. I won a $10 iTunes card from S.E. Shurtleff who just published The Cameo Caper, FIVE books by Becky Due for liking her page, and a beautiful bracelet from UliNai Premiere Fashion Jewelry. So, I've started paying attention. Here are some Kindle contests sponsored by some more of my facebook friends, click on the links to enter! I will add more as I find them, so check back. If you have a contest and want to list it here, please do so in the comments! Thanks and good luck!

Mary E. Martin, promoting her Trilogy of Remembrance
Larry Kahn, promoting "King of Paine"
JH Glaze, promoting his sequel to The Spirit Box, "Northwest"

Holiday Shopping--Books and Coupons!

2011-11-23T06:11:00.000-08:00

from Google images

Looking for book bargains? Here's a link to some great buys at Book Closeouts.. Here's Amazon's link to week-long deals and daily specials. Black Friday book deals on Facebook. More Black Friday book deals. Of course you could always shop on "Brown Thursday." Toys R Us (9 pm) and Walmart (10 pm) are beginning their sales Thursday night. Target is opening at 12 am and Belks is opening at 3 am Friday morning for crying out loud. My son works in the mall and has to be at his job at 4 am. Sears, however, has caved to last year's complaints and will not be opening on Thursday. So sad that shopping has not only taken over Christmas, it now infringes on Thanksgiving, too! The last time I went shopping on Black Friday I went very early in the morning and stood in line at Sears in freezing weather to get a Kitchen Aid Mixer for $160. I gave it to my daughter in law and she loved it, so I guess it was worth it. (I wanted to keep it, but I'm just one person and she cooks for my son's family.) I shopped online last year, and I expect I will do that this year if necessary. We've all become big gift card givers, anyway.

FREE E-BOOKS (not a sale) There are also coupons on this site. I can't get my coupon printer to work on this computer, but maybe it'll work for you!

COUPONS
I have some friends at work who are into this "Extreme" couponing and getting some great deals, including freebies! You can sign up for Proctor and Gamble samples and coupons to be mailed to you. Here is a list of freebies and coupons for your Thanksgiving dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!

If you are an author running a special on your book or ebook, feel free to post it in the comments!

SPOOKY POEMS

2011-10-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

Poem by Candice James

Picture by Janet Kvammen

Midnight, in the City of the Dead

by Herman King

Where is this I wake, how did I arrive?
Coldness grips me as find;
I am the only one alive.

Among the tombs of St Louis, number one, I lay
Too much absinthe, on Bourbon St. this day
The taste of anise and wormwood,
stale upon my lips.

My favorite hat is gone, my suit has rips.
My ribs are bruised, my tender jaw I feel
Was I robed and rolled in Storyville?

Fog from the river, floats close to the ground
The night is heavy, “what’s that sound?”
Only a rat that scurries among the stones
A loathsome creature that feeds on bones.

By the light from a street lamp, on Rampart Street
I look at the name on the tomb,
just beyond my feet.
Marie Laveau, said to be the Voodoo Queen
Some say she still holds court, site unseen.

Write your request and roll it up
Leave a coin, in a crack, the note you tuck
Three times knock, three times spin
Mark three X’s, you’re as good as in.

Movement aside, my head turns quick,
Nothings there, my mind plays tricks.
Again, I feel there is someone there.
Do I seek, this creature, do I dare?

A hooded cloak, hides crimson hair
Scarlet lips, skin, pale and fair.
She seeks my soul, to pierce my flesh
To drink my blood, hot and fresh

All I know of this world says go
But this Vampire’s lips I long to know.

Copyright ©1/12/2004 Herman King, all rights reserved by the author

Poems that Won or Placed in Contests

2011-10-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

MYRTLE RAE DAVIS JONES MEMORIAL AWARD 1st Place

Mississippi Poetry Society’s 2011 Spring Festival

Mother’s

by Wynne Huddleston

I am my mother’s doll— acting at her command,

hugged not too tightly, and punished when I don’t

obey. She fixes my hair like hers, dresses me

in homemade clothes. My words are spoken in her

tone of voice; her pink lipstick forms my lips. She

drags me up the narrow, wooded path, pushes me

toward God and the things she desires— I see

the world through her eyes. She points out

sharp rocks, and that Morning Glories are really

invasive vines. We go to the garden where she

tells me to only pick what is ripe, and how to feel

for maturity of peas in a pod, and golden-haired

corn. She gives me a sweet peach, right off

the tree, and picks figs for preserves. She gives me

the recipe for delicious pie made with sour green

apples and sugar. Soon I am old enough to go

to college to develop my brain and God-given

talents. I snowball down the well-trampled path,

bitten by the strange and the curious. Glad to get away

from the country of work and proverbs and sun, I

dress myself in the fad of the moment, lips painted

Siren Red. I study and learn the web of the world,

make friends with different views. They stuff me

with spicy foreign food intended to shatter

the plate from which Mother fed me. I chew on it

and decide which agrees or not with my stomach.

Then one night I throw most of it up. The next

morning I wake up and look in the mirror to put on

my usual makeup, but I stop in shock to see her

natural beauty stamped on my face; to hear her

tongue lash judgments from my mouth; to feel

the healing itch and pull of the stitches of wisdom

she’d sewn into the fiber of my soul. I race barefoot

down that rocky path, back to the garden to find

myself. Choosing the mature, preparing the tried

and true recipes, with some spices of my own, I know

one day I’ll drag my own sweet baby doll here, too.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Published in Mississippi Poetry Society Contest Issue 2011
© Wynne Huddleston

POETS ANONYMOUS AWARD 3rd Place
Mississippi Poetry Society’s 2011 Spring Festival

What Do You Know of Spring?
by Wynne Huddleston

...for what do you know of seasons,

child? of long awaited flowers? You

pluck them without thinking, without knowing

an old woman’s joy of looking out

of winter's monochromatic gloom

each morning to find that, yes! the flowers are

in bloom! How could you know

that daffodils and tulips peeking

through green ribbons nod assurance that spring

is here and will stay until the blossoms

fade, dry to brown, and crumble

to dust? But you, in your unbridled lust

for the present, in the wastefulness of youth,

have thoughtlessly, and thoughtfully,

ripped every flower from its stem

and now, with triumphant smile, offer

them—already in the stages of death—

to me as if they were a secret only you

had discovered, but wanted

to share. I turn to hide my tears. Forcing

all of spring into a single vase for a single

day, I feign delight, then you, having done

your good deed, bounce

away. The next morning I hear you call, “Granny!”

I drag my weary bones up, and look out

at the gray yard. Only barren stems and leaves

remain. But then I see your beautiful face, precious

child, smiling at me as if to say… I

am spring.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
Published in Mississippi Poetry Society Contest Issue 2011

POETS ANONYMOUS AWARD 3rd Place
Mississippi Poetry Society’s 2011 Spring Festival

Between Us

by Wynne Huddleston

While we await the birth of our first

grandchild, you refuse

to look at me. You stare at the wall

behind me as if it were

between us. I imagine

that's where you want to bury

me—in the mud and mortar between

the bricks you used to throw

when we were married. Nevertheless

I am still in your world, not

buried, but cremated, scattered

in fragments of memories—some blocked,

some remaining, like the stubborn

stains on the boxed-away wedding

gown. But this one we will keep

dear—our son enters the room, holding

this new life; we rush to stand

on opposite sides

of him. Our grandson looks at me

with your eyes, then

reaches for you

with my hand.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Published in Mississippi Poetry Society Contest Issue 2011

DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE 3rd Place
Mississippi Poetry Society’s 2011 Spring Festival

Chopin: Robbing Time

by Wynne Huddleston

Now we shall talk about Chopin, dear student.

To play his music you must understand him—

his unrequited love, homesickness, illness. Here is

his portrait, which fellow Romantic Delacroix painted

thickly. His lyrical melodies were influenced

by Rubini, the operatics of Bellini, and the poetry

of Heine. George Sand— novel girlfriend, pen

in one hand, cigar in the other, pretending

to be lover, and man—played him like a piano,

while he, patriotic Polish, performed in private

Parisian saloons, discussed philosophy, politics,

and the arts with the brightest minds

of the aristocrats. Half Frenchman, he was

appropriately published in Paris, but longed

for his home in Poland. He chose to teach

instead of giving public virtuoso concerts

like his friend, Liszt—you can blame him

for recitals. Still, Chopin composed Mazurkas,

Ballades, Scherzos, Nocturnes, Etudes, Preludes,

Polonaises, and more on his Pleyel piano. Robbed

of love, robbed of his Polish home

and family, robbed by illness, which,

like his melodies, robbed time—slowing

down, catching up. Two against three struggle,

young love— her father opposed—sickness

stole that, too. But time cannot rob, destroy,

or diminish the beauty of his music

as long as his spirit takes us from the depths

of his sad soul, lifts us from our own despair

and races us up those chromatic stairs—

all the way to heaven. His body lies

in a grave in Paris, but his heart was taken

home to rest at last in beloved Poland. Now

his spirit is in your fingertips, dear student,

you must share it with the world and one day,

teach it, to keep his music safe for all time.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Published in Mississippi Poetry Society Contest Issue 2011

Halloween Party Recipes: Frightfully Fun Food

2011-10-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

Having a Halloween party, or just want a spread for your special trick or treaters? Here are some delicious, spooky recipes! (The pics shown here are just decoration, but the links have pics of the recipes).

Dee Dee's Spider Web Apples
Rice Krispies candy meets apple on a stick.

Witch Cupcakes
Chocolate-flavored ice cream cones make perfect pointy hats.

Meatball Spiders
Italian meatballs in shredded cheese with chow mien noodle legs.

Hotdog Mummies
Yummy! Wrap your wieners in crescent dough.

Apple Bites
It's all in how you slice it. Who bites who?

Bloody Soup Shots
Bloody good tomato soup with garlic to ward off vampires!

Deviled Eyeballs
Egg-specially spooky!

Crunch Doughnut Eyeballs
Don't like eggs? Try these!

Pillsbury Ominous Flaky Owls
Crescent Rolls with chocolate drop eyes and Goldfish beak.

Vampire Lollipops
A new twist on ghost suckers.

Spiderweb Nacho Spread
For spiders dipping South of the Border!

Frankenstein Cupcakes
Tootsie rolls, gumdrops and mini-M&M's decorate these.

Keep the little ones busy with these easy Pumpkin Crafts.

Haunted Houses and Haunted Books

2011-10-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Alan Brown's Ghost Tour of Vicksburg at the Mississippi Writers Guild 2010 Conference. Saturday, October 29 SAGE Coffee and Books Dr. Alan Brown will sign his new book, Haunted Meridian, Mississippi (Haunted America). He is an expert on haunted towns. I attended this Vicksburg Tour. Very interesting!

Dr. Alan Brown's Tour of Vicksburg

MWG Conference Goers

I believe this was a Civil War Hospital. Haunted!

Check out other Haunted South articles in Deep South Magazine!

See my poem, Feeding the Ghost of You, in the Haunted Issue of Halfway Down the Stairs! More awesome Halloween Poems at Danse Macabre!

Add your haunted book or poem in the comments below!

John Rose's Thir13teen for Halloween

Mid-South Poetry Festival

2011-10-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the Mid-South Poetry Festival in Memphis, TN. Ann Carolyn Cates invited me to be Workshop Leader and to provide musical entertainment at the pot-luck Festival Party the night before. I had the pleasure of playing on a beautiful Baldwin grand/player piano in Sarah Hull Gurley's lovely home in Germantown. My selections were The Rose, Time in a Bottle, You're the Inspiration, You've Got a Friend, Vincent, Georgia, Chopin's Etude in E, Grieg's Nocturne in C, Chopin's Nocturne in e minor, and others.

Saturday went well. I presented my first workshop, "20 Ways to Loose Your Muse." I think the participants came up with some wonderful poems, and/or the makings of them. There were people from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas! I really enjoyed getting to know them; the Poetry Society of Tennessee are a friendly, talented group. I was also pleased to meet Russell H. Strauss, President of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, and Randy Stoker, President of PST.

left: JoAnn, Frances Cowden (Grandmother Earth), Betty (right)

front: our party hostess, Sarah, Randy and Russell

JoAn and me

The Foyer

Front Door

The Baldwin I played

Russell Strauss, President of NFSPS and Randy Stoker, Pres. PST

Randy Stoker, President PST announcing winners

Ann Carolyn Cates (center) and JoAn Howerton (right)

100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE

2011-09-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Here is the poem I wrote for our choral reading:

Prayer of 100 Thousand Poets

by Wynne Huddleston

Let our message become
that thing with feathers, spread
wings and soar
around the world.

Let it nest in the breasts
of those who emit
terror, greed, and hatred.

Let our words be crisp
as autumn air, fresh and pure
as a mountain stream should be.

Let our languages blend,
harmonious as colors of a rainbow,
mend the holes in the ozone.

Let our pleas for peace rise
higher than the noise of metal and fire,
end misuse of power.

Let bells of liberty resound
so loudly that shackles are released
from hands and feet.

Let our caring discover
a way to cease poverty,
drug abuse, hunger and disease.

Let not politics, race, religion,
or money override regard for mankind,
the future of Earth and all life therein.

May these poetic wishes fall
like lovely colored leaves, stick
on the soles of shoes, and be spread
wherever they tread.

To read more poems concerning the themes of 100 TPC please click here

A Decade Since...Don't Forget

2011-09-10T22:04:00.000-07:00

A Decade Since

by Wynne Huddleston

Don't forget the horror

Don't forget the tears

Don't forget the despair

although it's been 10 years.

Don't forget the men and women

who sacrificed their lives

to save someone else's daughters,

and sons or husbands and wives.

But we must remember this—

how quickly we joined as one

in grief and anger and love

fighting through fire and stone

to rescue and comfort each other.

Boundaries of politics, race

and religion all disappeared

in the dust of this gray place.

We raised our flag and our voices here

where two tall towers had stood

America breathed and grieved

as one in love and brotherhood.

Mourning, she buried the dead,

counted the injured and lost.

Then swiftly lifted up her head

and vowed no matter the cost

such evil, viscious acts of terror

on American soil could never,

WOULD never

again be allowed to occur.

☸ڿڰۣ—

Sept. 11, 2011

I was just moved to pen this poem. I'm sure I'll change some things, but wanted to post it in remembrance for this day of sorrow. Please do not copy it, but feel free to share the link to it. Thanks!

Our elementary honored first responders and the military for the10th anniversary of 9/11. The shadowy figure is eerily symbolic.

the old flag is taken down

the new flag unfolded

the new flag raised

Sadden

Dead

Sad

End

Send

Dad

Sea

And

Sand

Den

Steve Forbert and Webb Wilder at Sucarnochee Revue

2011-09-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to see Nashville "swampadelic" Webb Wilder (hometown Hattiesburg, MS) and Meridian, MS' own Steve Forbert in concert at the historic Temple Theatre during September's Sucarnochee Revue. This is the first one I've attended in which host Jacky Jack White did not perform, but he was on hand with his usual charming jokes. Webb Wilder's first album, It Came From Nashville, was released in 1986. I'm afraid I didn't get the names of the songs but there was a wide variety of styles. Perhaps someone will fill me in. I liked the slower tunes and the oldie by Jimmy Swan, who would have been my cousin's father in law, were he living. Here is Wilder's Human Cannonball.

Wilder stayed to sign CDs and pose for pictures with annoying fans like me : )

Webb Wilder and Wynne

Steve Forbert formerly known as "Little Stevie Orbit" was heralded by Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry as one of the city's own. Two other Meridianites played with Steve: Clay Barnes, a great guitarist who goes way back with Steve, and young Adam Box on drums. Kenny Ames was the bass player, and, although it was his first time to play with the group, and the others two had not played a lot with him, but you never would have known it; they were great! Forbert's unique, hoarse, seductive voice filled the auditorium with several songs from his album the American in Me-- Baby Don't, Responsibility, When the Sun Shines, and You Cannot Win 'Em All. The lyrics are Bob Dylan-Woodie Guthrie American storytelling at its finest, i.e.On the Streets of this Town. Responsibility tells the story of the middle class man who wishes for time to "stop and smell the roses" but is far too busy working to make ends meet. Set the World Ablaze, released May 2011, is protest about the 2008 financial meltdown.

You sell investors bags of bungles,
Some stuff you know is bound to fail,
And then make bets against the bundles
So you win big behind the veil!

You've set the world ablaze
So give yourself a raise

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://steveforbert.bandcamp.com/track/set-the-world-ablaze"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Set The World Ablaze by Steve Forbert&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Add the folksy harmonica and there you have it--American as apple pie. Forbert varied the tempo with an acoustic set with just Clay and Steve on guitars. Of course there had to be some Jimmie Rodgers, the "father of country music" who is also from Meridian. Steve brought out Jimmie's priceless museum guitar (the one that says "Thanks" on the back) and played "My Carolina Sunshine Girl," "My Blue-Eyed Jane" and the hilarious "In the Jailhouse." The concert got rockin' with Born to Be Wild, as well as a version of Jailhouse Rock that "Elvis never did." And yes, he did perform "Romeo's Tune" his song that hit the Billboard Hot100 Chart at #11 in 1980. Forbert was nice enough to stay after the concert to sign CDs and he even posed for pictures!

Wynne and Steve Forbert

Steve Forbert signing CD

Concert goers were given copies of this month's beautiful Legends Magazine with Meridian's lovely Sela Ward gracing the cover. For more pictures from this special Wilder/Forbert Sucarnochee Revue, please see Legend's facebook page.

The Structure of the Hero's Journey as Related to Sonata Form

2011-08-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

Today we had a great meeting of the Meridian Chapter of the Mississippi Writers Guild. Playwright Elliott Street (who has over 50 film and television credits) presented a very interesting workshop on "The Hero's Journey," using Christopher Vogler's, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structures for Storytellers and Screenwriters as reference. The Narrative Archetypes are the Hero (protagonist), Herald, Mentor, Threshold Guardian, Shapeshifter (turn-coat), Shadow (antagonist), Ally, (friends of hero), Enemy (friends of the shadow) and Trickster (one who gets you out of difficult situations). Vogler lists12 steps that occur in three acts in which the hero completes his journey. It all begins with the Hero happy in his ordinary world. The Herald gives him some bad news, which he probably ignores at first. Eventually the news or problem is so bad he has to respond. Now he needs a Mentor for help, and gathers Allies at some point, maybe now or in the "special world" he has to go to to confront the Shadow. The Mentor may give him something to help him on his journey--the talisman. Now he has to find a way to get past the Threshold guard, perhaps with help from a Trickster ally. Once in the special world he may face many enemies before he actually does battle with the Shadow. One of his allies may be a Shapeshifter who deceives him. Just when all hope is gone, he will need to use the talisman to save himself. After he has conquered the Shadow he changes in some way. He must come home with things resolved, set right. There may be some more surprises; he could find out that the Shadow is not who he thought he was, etc...

Elliot gave several stories, movies and real life examples of all these. It seems so clear explained this way; I was already comparing all the archetypes to TV shows I'd recently watched!

After the workshop, I read my poem "Concerto" (Heavy Hands Ink Vol. 6) and realized how similar sonata/concerto form are to Vogler's three acts as described by Mr. Street.

I. The Exposition: Exposing the themes. (a) Theme in the Tonic and (b) Contrasting Theme in a different key usually Dominant. (a. theme--the Hero in his usual, comfortable world, b. theme--his friend, family or community, etc... is in trouble). There may be a repeat (the first call to action may be ignored). There is a Bridge to the Development (the Threshold Guardian.)

II. Development: The themes are expanded upon, can wander in several keys and tonalities (the hero goes to the special or strange new world, faces conflict, does battle, then victoriously resolves the problem). There may be a fake Recap before it actually comes (you may have a Shapeshifter-one who switches loyalties). A circle of fifths, or some sort of harmonic progression will take you back to the Recap. (the talisman?)

III. The Recapitulation: The themes return, are changed somehow, but b theme is in the Tonic (The hero returns home with his reward or accomplishment, his friend, family or community safe with him and lives happily ever after, or at least finds resolution.) Coda (may be a surprise side story, such finding out that the Shadow was a hero turned bad, or a relative, etc...)

You could take the analogy as far as you like; even claim the allies are the harmony to the melody, etc... In a concerto, of course, you would have the solo part and then the orchestra (allies) joining in. But the general idea seems the same--they both tell a story!

Flash Poetry Mob

2011-08-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this post Poetry Out of Nowhere: National Poetry Month Flash Mob on Kate Messner's blog. One stanza of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells" is in our 5th grade music books (I teach elementary music), and I always read the entire poem to the class. I love the rhythm of it, as well as Poe, of course. This reminds me of "choral" reading. Here is the poem:

The Bells

by Edgar Allan Poe

I

Hear the sledges with the bells-
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

II

Hear the mellow wedding bells,
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!
From the molten-golden notes,
And an in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells,bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!

III

Hear the loud alarum bells-
Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of night
How they scream out their affright!
Too much horrified to speak,
They can only shriek, shriek,
Out of tune,
In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,
In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire,
Leaping higher, higher, higher,
With a desperate desire,
And a resolute endeavor,
Now- now to sit or never,
By the side of the pale-faced moon.
Oh, the bells, bells, bells!
What a tale their terror tells
Of Despair!
How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour
On the bosom of the palpitating air!
Yet the ear it fully knows,
By the twanging,
And the clanging,
How the danger ebbs and flows:
Yet the ear distinctly tells,
In the jangling,
And the wrangling,
How the danger sinks and swells,
By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells-
Of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells,bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
In the clamor and the clangor of the bells!

IV

Hear the tolling of the bells-
Iron Bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people- ah, the people-
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All Alone
And who, tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone-
They are neither man nor woman-
They are neither brute nor human-
They are Ghouls:
And their king it is who tolls;
And he rolls, rolls, rolls,
Rolls
A paean from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the paean of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the paean of the bells-
Of the bells:
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells-
To the sobbing of the bells;
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells:
To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells-
Bells, bells, bells-
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.

I am thankful to my 4th-6th grade teachers that MADE us recite poems in front of the entire class! I was terribly shy and nearly passed out every time I had to do it. I always hoped to be last so I could recite only to the teacher during recess. But I am glad that we had to memorize them. That's what I miss with free verse. It's so much easier to remember poetry when it has rhythm and rhyme. Think about how much easier it is to remember song lyrics. That's because you use a different part of your brain when music is involved. Brain scans actually show the brain lighting up all over when you play an instrument, sing a song, or just listen to music. I digress, but do YOU know any poems "by heart" that are free verse?

This is a very good way to get students to memorize poetry while promoting poetry to the public! Win-win! I really want to use this idea at a festival, in the mall, or maybe even in the school cafeteria! I would suggest, however, that you inform security that this is going to happen. We wouldn't want to cause panic!

What are some poems that you think would work well for flash poetry mob?

What are some poems you were required to memorize in school? I remember (6th grade, maybe) we had to learn the last stanza of Thanatopsis!

So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan, which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

Get it "Write"

2011-07-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

So many people tell me, I want to get published, tell me how. I give them the link to Part 1 of my series on Poetry Submissions (which also works for stories). Often it boils down to this: the right time, the right place, with the right poem or story. If you are rejected it might not be because it wasn’t “good enough,” but simply because it didn’t fit that particular issue or the theme of that issue. Here are some things to check to make sure you get it right.

Teacher Retirement Poem: Seeds You've Sown

2011-05-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

I was asked to write this for a retirement reception for some special ed and kindergarten teachers. You may not understand it all, since it is specific to our school, policies, their sayings, and duties. I don't usually do rhyme, and I know the ending gets off meter, but I wanted to say what I wanted to say!

Seeds You've Sown

by Wynne Huddleston

No bells to alarm,
no papers to correct
no parents to charm,
nor money to collect,

no mindless repetition,
no children left behind,
no scolding, admonitions
no young minds to refine,

no discipline forms to fill,
no watching out for bullies,
no walking up the hill,
no cold morning duties,

no uniforms, no calming
kindergartners' fears.
From SPED and I.E.P.s
to mainstreamed and Tiers--

whatever the "powers
that be" contrived--
you put in the hours
and somehow survived.

Amidst chasing rabbits,
tornado procedures,
correcting bad habits,
and calling legislatures,

you still found time to give
a smile, a nod, a touch,
a cougar buck or high-five,
things that meant so much

to a struggling girl or boy.
Now you have done your best
time to go out and enjoy,
or maybe get some rest!

But this is not the end
bells will continue to ring
and surely you, my friend,
will be reminded each spring

that the seeds of wisdom you've sown
will become fruitful trees
and in turn, when full grown,
will replant those same seeds.

Drunk Drivers ~ Different Roads

2011-05-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

Different Roads is about two wrecks in which drunk drivers killed (1) my best friend and (2) two little cousins. Both wrecks happened when they were on their way to church. This was published last year in The Shine Journal.

Dear God,

Please let me wake up
to something different;

when the sun rises high at noon
let it be pink or green—
anything but hot yellow;

let the cattle in the pasture
sing like birds instead of that
awful dull moo;

let cats tell us what they are
thinking when they stare
so mysteriously;

let dark clouds become silver
helicopters that fly us up
to take a bite of chocolate moon;

and bring us down softly to grass
made of gold feathers instead
of hard beds of brown mounded
dirt and pillows of gray

stone. Or, forget all of that if only
You would go back
to that fateful day and delay
their journey to church,
or have the drunk driver take

a different road.
But if you can’t do either, I pray
You’ll give me strength to make it through
each lonely day, the wisdom to stay on
the right road, and the hope that I’ll meet
them again in such a beautiful place.

Footnote: There are so many things I can say about Marcia that I've decided I need to write a memoir. But let me say that we met in college, had everything in common from being engaged to being music majors. She'd only been married a year when she was killed. Her husband called me after the funeral to tell me she had acted strange that morning, waking early and asking if he loved her as much as when they first married and could they go to the river. He said, no, we have to practice. They were to sing a song together in church the next day. After many years I tried to find him. I tried online through facebook and phone numbers but could not. This past summer I found someone on facebook that knew Marcia's father. He said that her husband had committed suicide. I don't know when it happened--after the wreck or years later--but I was heartbroken.

The children, CJ and Crystal, were my ex husband's 2nd cousins. They were close friends of my two boys. It was very tragic. The little boy had begged his mother to let him sit up front by his dad. So they traded places.

The really strange thing is that Marcia was my maid of honor, and the father of the children was our best man. He has another son now. I am divorced now.

Mississippi Poetry Society Spring Festival 2011

2011-05-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Wynne, DeSha, Doris

The MPS Spring Festival was sponsored by the South Branch at Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center in Ocean Springs on April 29-May1. I was surprised and pleased to win 1st Place for “Mother’s,” 3rd Place for “What Do You Know of Spring,” 3rd Place for a Narrative Poem, “Chopin: Robbing Time,” and an Honorable Mention for “Reaching for Light.” There was a Critique by panelists Dr. Will Watson (USM, Coast Branch), Tana Ford, and Tommy Little. I was fortunate enough that my poem was the first poem critiqued! Comments were very encouraging and helpful. I must quote Dr. Watson as calling my poem “sophisticated.” (W.W., your check is in the mail.)

Wynne Reading "Mother's"

Doris Jones, DeSha Montgomery, diana sue, and I went to Leo's Wood Fired Pizza, a new restaurant in Ocean Springs that has black and white pictures of movie stars and singers all over the walls.

DeSha, diana sue, Doris

Dr. Virginia Gilbert, recipient of the 2010 Literature Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and award winning photographer, conducted a workshop on “What Our Words and Images Say about Us and How We Get Those Words out to the Public in the Computer Age.” We also did an interesting writing exercise that continued later that night.

Our Poet of the Year, Doris Jones, read from her book, Pull Down the Stories. Doris is also a storyteller and works in the schools.

Jeanne Smith Kelly presented Dr. Emory Jones with the MPS State Poet Laureate Award.

A book signing followed, and I even signed and sold copies of the anthology, From the Porch Swing–memories of our grandparents (Silver Boomer). I have two stories and a prose piece in that anthology.

A Banquet followed with dinner music by musician/composer Ken Davies on trombone and Elva Avara on keyboard.

Officers were installed Sunday:

Judy Davies-- Treasurer, Wynne--Secretary,

Jeanne Smith Kelly--VP, and Brenda Finnegan--President.

Dates were set for the Fall Festival in Jackson (2nd weekend in November) and the Spring Festival (last weekend in April). For more pics and details see MPS Spring Festival 2011.

APRIL!

2011-04-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

It's National Poetry Month, and a very busy month for me. Mississippi Music Educators held the State Conference on March 30- April 2 in Jackson. I had workshops there and a student who performed in the Miss. Elementary State Choir concert, my 3rd surgery for a Lentigo Maligna on my face (finally got it all this time), my grandson's birthday is coming up, Easter is this weekend and the Mississippi Poetry Society is holding the Spring Festival in Ocean Springs April 30-May 1. Whoa! I spread myself thin and hope to get everything done! Meantime, check out my other blog post It's National Poetry Month to read and add favorite poems/quotes. Also, there are links for sharing poetry with children!

Ebooks and Self-Publishing

2011-04-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ebooks and Self-Publishing

Some of us are being carried kicking and screaming into the e-revolution. I wrote this tongue-in-cheek poem, Empty Margins Rekindled, when the Kindle appeared on the market.

I think, or at least I hope, that there will always be print books. But in this world you either go with the flow or get stuck in the mud. Technology is constantly changing and improving and so must we as writers. I have yet to take the plunge to self-publish (other than the few poems I have on my blogs). Popularity of e-technology and economics play major roles in Why are more and more authors self-publishing e-books instead of using traditional publishers and instead of self-publishing in print?

2010--My Personal Review

2011-01-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

Top Personal Happenings. My youngest son moved out (but still close by) and got engaged. My oldest son and his family is also moving very close to me.

Famous Musicians I met: I had my picture made with Morgan Freeman, Sela Ward, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Spooner Oldam, L.C. Ulmer, and singer/songwriters Walt Aldridge, Steve Dean, Don Poythress, Jimbeau Hinson, Marc-Alan, and I shook hands with Tracey Lawrence during a concert. I also became friends with legendary Chris Ethridge, Scott McQuaig, and Jacky Jack White. My song, Many More Birthdays, was performed at Relay for Life in Forest, MS at their opening ceremony.

My Top Poetry News, I joined the Mississippi Poetry Society as soon as I found out the particulars. I accepted the post of Secretary for the Mississippi Writers Guild. I attended four workshop/conferences in 2010: Southern Christian Writers Conference in Tuscaloosa, AL, Mississippi Writers Guild Conference, Chattahoochee Valley Writers’ Conference in GA, Mississippi Poetry Society Fall Workshop.

I had planned to meet Mississippi's Poet Laureate, Winifred Farrar (who was my best friend's cousin) but she passed away before I got the chance. I did meet the talented Natasha Trethewey at a book signing/reading in Jackson. She was very impressive and kind.

My 2010 Publications. Last year I had 35 poems accepted by 19 publications with 25 poems published and 10 forthcoming. I won 1st place in Grandmother Earth’s Environmental Poetry Contest, 3rd place in Mississippi Poetry Society’s Poets Anonymous Contest, and I won the Enchanted Conversation’s Daughters of Air Contest. Not fantastic, but not too bad for my first full year of submitting. Add one published in Dec. 2009 and one accepted on Jan. 1, 2011 for a grand total of 37 acceptances in print and online journals and magazines plus 3 anthologies. I hope this year will be even more productive! I’ve been a slacker over the holidays, but getting an acceptance on the first day of the year was a real encouragement! Back to work—or is it play? Maybe both.

Tracey Lawrence

Marc-Alan and Wynne

Jimbeau Hinson and Wynne

Wonderland of Gifts for Christmas

2010-12-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

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Top 9 Ways to Kill a Thanksgiving Turkey (Again)

2010-11-23T15:53:00.000-08:00

1. Leave the giblets IN the plastic bag inside the turkey. Place in oven until the poisonous smell fills the kitchen.

2. Forget to turn the oven ON.

3. Forget to turn the timer ON.

4. Float the turkey in a sea of juices…he probably needs a bath, and will look cute as a boat for the gravy.

5. Be considerate and take the turkey’s temperature under his wing instead of up his rear.

6. Overfill the fryer with oil, any oil except Peanut Oil. Enjoy the fireworks instead of the turkey. Or, to set the stage for a reenactment of the Civil War, complete with canon, make sure the fryer is sitting on unleveled ground.

7. Wait until 11:03 a.m. to take the turkey out of the fridge and find out it is STILL frozen.

8. DO inject yourself instead of the turkey with your favorite drink …we wouldn’t want the chef to dry out during cooking!

9. If all else fails and the turkey comes out perfect, there’s always the old Christmas Story standby—let the neighbors’ dogs in for a little snack before dinner.

Now the only "gobble gobble" you'll hear will be the turkeys laughing at you!

Poetry Submissions Due October-December 2010

2010-10-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

October-December submission deadlines!

2010 Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference

2010-09-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 Chattahoochee Valley Writers' Conference in lovely Columbus, Georgia this weekend. I loved the fact that the workshops were an hour and a half long and were small enough that everyone had a chance to get to know each other. (Plus I won a door prize of several great books!) Sarah and I arrived just in time for the reading by Jessica Handler, author of Invisible Sisters: A Memoir, who also gave a workshop the next day on Writing Through Grief. Other workshop presenters included:
Keith Badowski of Brick Road Poetry Press-- "How to Get Started, How to Keep Going: Poetry Prompts, Exercises, and Springboards for Those Times When Your Muse Takes a Vacation."
John Travis--Publishing in Today's World. John is the editor for a "very small literary press," Portals Press in New Orleans.
Sarah Campbell--Earn $$ Before Getting Published, and Photos + Stories=Winning Nonficton.
Andy Harp, thriller author and Marine--Resources to Add Ring of Authenticity to Your Thriller.
Elsie Austin (veteran of the 30-Day Novel) --Writing a Novel in Thirty Days.
Scott Wilkerson-- Poetry About Poetry: How Language Looks at Itself.

Carson McCullers

After the workshop we had a great social at the great GA writer Carson McCullers' home.

Me with Sarah Campbell in front of the McCullers home.

The Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Carson McCullers; to nurturing American writers and musicians; to educating young people; and to fostering the literary and musical life of Columbus, the State of Georgia, and the American South. There is a call for papers and a huge 94th birthday celebration being planned for February 17-19, 2011! Deadline for submissions: October 1, 2010. For more information about this conference and more photos please click here.

Poetry, Morality, Politics and Other News

2010-09-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

When Natasha Trethewey was asked to detail "Why I Write" to get into a graduate university program, she says her father told her to read an essay on "Why I Write" by Orwell. Orwell claimed that writing without political thought was empty, dull. She says poets always have to defend why they write, not as a judge, but an advocate. She almost didn't get into the program because she was thought of as "too concerned with her message to write 'real' poetry." She looked up "message" and it said it refers to a theme with political, social or moral importance. What's wrong with that? She asked. Haven't these things always been a part of poetry? I ask that, too! In this video, "Why I Write: Natasha Trethewey on Poetry, History and Social Justice" she talks about how we "write what we are given" and that includes our influence of political, racial and spiritual backgrounds. What is the moral authority of a poet, if any? What is the newest software for poets? Is the BAP on the up and up? Should poetry readings replace prayers? Who was a scandalous poet in the 20s? Here are some interesting articles concerning poetry that I came across online recently.

Also, check out the poem in Glen Beck's trailor, even if you don't like or can't stand him. It's from The Gods of the Copybook Headings by Rudyard Kipling. You can read the entire poem, until they remove it, here.

Natasha Trethewey, Mississippi's Own

2010-09-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

Poet Natasha Trethewey,winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her collection Native Guard (Houghton Mifflin 2006) was born in Gulfport, Mississippi and now holds the Phillis Wheatley Distinguished Chair in Poetry at Emory University. She won the inaugural 1999 Cave Canem poetry prize for her first poetry collection, Domestic Work (Graywolf Press, 2000), the 2008 Mississippi Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts for Poetry and numerous other awards. Ms. Trethewey earned a B.A. in English from the University of Georgia, an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from Hollins University, and an M.F.A in poetry from the University of Massachusetts. She was recently interviewed on NPR about her latest work, Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf. I happy to announce that Ms. Trethewey will be in Jackson, MS on Wednesday, September 8 at 5 p.m. for a book signing at Lemuria Bookstore. Her newest collection of poetry, Thrall, is forthcoming from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Fall 2012. You can read some of her poems here. I absolutely love her poetry in Native Guard. She takes you into the very depths of her sorrow over the loss of her mother, just as she leads you into the despair of Mississippians in Beyond Katrina. I highly recommend both!

Natasha Trethewey Reading at Lemuria in Jackson, MS

Songwriters in the Round Symposium & Celebration of Mississippi's Musical Heritage

2010-08-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

My sister called me and said her boss had won tickets to the Singer/Songwriter concert. I said, oh, the workshop thing Chris Ethridge was part of? She read me what was on the tickets...Admission to Sparkle and Twang (already saw it with Marty Stuart himself present) Songwriters in the Round Concerts on Friday night, Aug. 20 at the Riley Arts Center. Oh! I was planning on going to that... great! Plus, the symposium on Mississippi's Musical Heritage on Saturday. I had no idea what a treat I was in for until I got to the concert Friday night. The only word that comes to my mind is awesome! Meridian native Don Poythress, Steve Dean from Little Rock, Arkansas (now in Nashville) and Walt Aldridge from the musically famous Muscle Shoals, Alabama are amazing songwriters, as well as very talented musicians. They played many of their hit songs, but I will mention a few of my favorites that they performed. Don Poythress’ “You Remain” recorded in 2002 by Willie Nelson, Bonnie Rait and Cheryl Crow (what poetry!) and the soon to be released cowboy/Christian song “That’s Where Jesus Is.” Of course, “A Little More Country than That,” Easton Corbin, brought the house down. Steve Dean’s songs included “Southern Star,” Alabama, “Round About Way,” George Strait, and a song even children know, “Watching You,” Rodney Atkins. For more of Steve’s songs, visit his myspace page. Walt Aldridge contributed greatly to the concert with an awesome collection of his hit songs including “I Loved her First,” (which made me cry), Heartland, “Holding Her and Loving You,” Earl Thomas Conley, “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” Travis Tritt, and “There’s No Gettin’ Over Me,” Ronnie Milsaps. Walt also interjected humor during his songs and stories about songwriting. I loved every minute and every song. What a treat!

Walt Aldridge and Wynne

Saturday's Symposium featured discussions with a panel composed of Barry Mazor, author of Meeting Jimmie Rodgers, Scott Barretta, host of Highway 61 Blues Show on Mississippi Public Radio who also teaches at Ole Miss, Elliott Thomas from MDA and Dr. Edgar Smith who is a member of the Blues Commission, an interview with Chris Ethridge, bass and songwriter legend, and 81 year old L.C. Ulmer, the highlight of my day. This captivating man actually had duct tape on his guitar... why? I didn't ask. For pictures and to read more about this charming, talented man, click here.

Scott Barretta (holding The Flying Burritos Album) and Chris Ethridge

L.C. Ulmer

Comeback to Fried Green Things...

2010-08-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Katie, Regina, Wynne, Pat, Richelle

Saturday night, Aug. 7 after the MWG Conference in Vicksburg, we had a delicious supper at Duff's Restaurant. The atmosphere was candlelight-rustic, with interesting artwork to feast our eyes upon while waiting for our wonderful meal. I had the ribeye steak, garlic potatoes and steamed veggies. Pat had pecan encrusted catfish. Others had vegetarian dishes and linguine. But the real surprise treat came before the meal. Duff's Restaurant showed our facilitators some real Mississippi hospitality with an appetizer tray of smoked salmon and fried pickles. That's right, FRIED PICKLES! Now I don't fry much of anything anymore, but I will never turn down fried dill pickles. Our New York facilitators--Regina Brooks, Founder and President of Serendipity and Katie McHugh, Executive Director of Da Capo Lifelong Books, had never heard of fried pickles. We then got into the discussion of fried green things and how it's not healthy to fry anything anymore when I admitted I did like to fry up some fried green tomatoes, fresh out of my daddy's garden, topped with cheddar cheese and bacon bits. My sauce of choice is Pepper Ranch dressing. My New Orleans theatre friends, however, prefer Comeback sauce. What is that? Regina wanted to know. Then, to my surprise, a couple of my fellow Mississippian dinner partners had never heard of the sauce either! For all the Yankees (and Southerners) who don't know, Comeback sauce is a combination of 1,000 Island dressing and remoulade sauce to be used on french fries, deep fried vegetables (like pickles or tomatoes), chicken, seafood, beef or salads. According to the Clarion Ledger "It is the Queen Mother of all Mississippi condiments." For recipes to Comeback Sauce, Fried Pickles and Fried Green Tomatoes, please click here.

Rachelle, Dr. Allan Brown, Lauretta, Hester, Katie, Regina

To read more about the MWG Conference, click here

Poets for Living Waters Poem

2010-08-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

DRILLING DISASTER

by Sandra Howard

My poem, Drilling Disaster, won 1st Place in the 2010 Grandmother Earth Contest, Environmental Division. It will appear in Grandmother Earth XVII. The poem first appeared in the Open Mic section of Poets for Living Waters, but can be found more easily here where you may also view Sandra Howard's amazing pictures that inspired me to write!

Reprinted from Poets for Living Waters:

Poets for Living Waters is a poetry action in response to the Gulf Oil Disaster of April 20, 2010, one of the most profound man-made ecological catastrophes in history. Former US poet laureate Robert Pinsky describes the popularity of poetry after 9/11 as a turn away from the disaster’s overwhelming enormity to a more manageable individual scale. As we confront the magnitude of this recent tragedy, such a return may well aid us.

You may also post the link to your poem posted on your blog at the We Write Poems blog

Self-publishing your Book of Poetry

2010-07-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Why are so many authors self-publishing?

In Self-Publishing: Tips, Tricks & Techniques by James A. Cox, editor of Midwest Book Review, Cox states that "A self-publisher is all of the following: writer, editor, designer/artist, typesetter/compositor, printer, financier/accountant, marketer, shipper/warehouser, legal adviser, financial underwriter, and business manager." So, why would anyone self-publish if they have to do everything for themselves? Finding a publisher for a poetry book is nearly impossible for the new poet. Contests are time-consuming, costly, and a gamble. For more about self-publishing please click here.

The Arts for Preschoolers

2010-07-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

This from NPR news: In France, 3 year olds attend school all day and take naps in dorm beds. They learn to recite poems, perform songs in concerts, and attend art museums. The focus is not on reading and writing, but learning who they are. President Obama wants the US to provide free preschool for our students, also. Currently Headstart provides for low income families. Because I have a 3 yr old grandson who attends daycare, I think this is a great idea, however, I do hope it does not become mandatory! This is wonderful in some respects; I like the emphasis on the arts. The following is an article review that I wrote in graduate school.

Music and Intelligence in the Early Years

by Wynne Huddleston

In the article "Music and Intelligence in the Early Years," from Early Childhood Connections, (Spring 1995) John Feierabend supports the idea of preschool music education. He explains that neurological studies show that children must be exposed to good musical experiences as early as possible. Furthermore, Edwin Gordon's aptitude tests performed on children after age 6 prove that little can be done to rectify a lack of an early musical exposure. Feierabend, a national leader in the field of early childhood education, quotes Kodaly as saying that no one is complete without music. Even the Greeks believed that there was a triangle of areas important for the development of a truly educated person. Math was believed necessary for the brain, physical education for the body, and music for sensitivity. American schools usually involve reading, writing and arithmetic. Many schools in Europe begin kindergarten at age 3, and allow children to learn by exploration and interaction with other children. Feierabend feels that American children are already behind before they get to our kindergartens. He thinks we should model Hungary's excellent music program which begins in kindergarten for ages 3-5.

In recent years, Howard Gardner, a Harvard professor of neurophysiology, discovered in his intelligence-based research that people possess distinct intellectual abilities. He concluded in his book, Frames of Mind, that there are seven individual intelligences—linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, body-kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Nature and nurture seem to be the determining factors for "talent" in a specific area. The three "R's" that most schools have traditionally focused upon only include two of these "intelligences." Even TAG classes have been geared toward the linguistic and mathematical intelligences. Gardner believes we should discover and expand these other intelligences. A child could be talented in one of the other intelligences and be just as gifted in that area. Different intelligences can be used in music. As we learn to use our minds, we process information through certain conditioning. A person, who learns to play an instrument by reading notes and symbols, and uses the instrument to hear music, is exhibiting music from a logical/mathematical intelligence. If, however, one has had musical experiences at an early age in listening, singing, dancing, or playing by ear, this is music intelligence. Learning facts about music is done through one's linguistic intelligence.

The manner in which each intelligence is seeded during the early years of life will affect its development. There must be a network of neurological fibers which will allow for the processing of information into a particular intelligence. The density of these synapses increases the most during the first few months of life and reaches maximum capacity (about twice what we use and maintain) at one to two years of age. As children grow and develop, unnecessary connections die. The number decreases during ages two to sixteen and the number stays about the same until around age seventy-two. This is why it is so important to develop the neural network at the earliest age possible. These neurological connectors are formed by experiences, and without these experiences the connections die.

Most schools spend much of the school day developing reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, providing adequate nurturing in two of the intelligences. Still, the other five intelligence areas remain relatively neglected. The lack of concern for developing all intelligence areas is further evident in gifted and talented programs supported by many schools in the United States. Usually a child must excel in either logical-mathematical or linguistic intelligence to be included in such programs. The students who are often left out also deserve challenges in their particular areas of intelligence. Music (and other arts) might be the one area in which a student can achieve.

Reference: Feierabend, John M., PH.D. (1995, Spring) Music and Intelligence in the Early Years, Early Childhood Connections. Retrieved June 23, 2006, from http://giamusic.com/music_education/feierabend/articles/intelligence.html

Fourth of July, Fun, and Fireworks.

2010-07-03T21:40:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July brings to mind memories of cookouts with hotdogs, hamburgers or steak, potato chips or potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, cold watermelons, homemade ice cream churned by hand, red checkered tablecloths on picnic tables, us children running around knocking sweet tea or Cokes over, getting bitten by ants, tons of family talking or arguing loudly, and of course, fireworks. I was never too crazy about shooting firecrackers, bottle rockets were more my speed--put them in a Coke bottle, light the fuse and run! Now we have the symphony and fireworks on the reservoir. As with every holiday, there will be some who have too much to drink. Please, for all those who've been victims of accidents, don't drink and drive. My latest poem, Different Roads, was published this month in The Shine Journal. I dedicated it to my best friend that I met in college and two little cousins. All three were killed on their way to their churchs, but in two different wrecks caused by 2 different drunk drivers. The poem comes from the gut-wrenching feeling you get upon waking up and remembering... these loved ones are gone. This poem/prayer explores the fantasy of wishing everything were different, but then realizing you have to accept it and go on with your life. Read about a story in the Examiner about a young woman who ruined her life by drinking and driving.

Please "think before you drink" who will be your designated driver if you must go home drunk! Or Party hearty, but stay in the yard (spend the night where you are.)

My Latest Publication News

2010-07-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

My poem, The Sands of My Life, is in the September issue of joyful! Scroll down a little more than halfway on the page to read it!

GREAT GRANDPARENTS DAY GIFT

Grandparent's Day is September 12. The Silver Boomer Book Anthology, From the Porch Swing - memories of our grandparents, would make a great gift and is on sale for a limited time. In this book I have 2 poems about my grandfathers, “Grandpa, King of Checkers” (Grandpa Lee) and “Where Muscadines Grow” (Grandpa George). I also have a funny prose/story about gathering eggs at my grandmother’s house titled, “Don’t Call Me Chicken!” (Grandma Alice). The order info should be up soon at the above website. If you are local and want an autographed copy, contact me ASAP, as I am about to make an order. Also, check out my poem, Different Roads, posted in this month's The Shine Journal. It's dedicated to my best friend from college and two little cousins who were killed on their way to their churches in two different car wrecks by drunk drivers.

Wynne, sister Donna, cousin Daniel

Grandpa George & Grandma Lois

Grandpa Lee & Grandma Alice-50th Anniversary

Today's Poetry: Revolution at Hand or a Continuance?

2010-07-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

What does the future hold for poetry? Here are some articles bearing concerns about today’s trends and concerns for where poetry is heading.

In his article, Creating a Soulful, Inspirational Poetry for the Future , (Osprey Journal) Don Coorough states that “Poetry has arrived at an historic crossroads.” With events such as 9-11, the war on terrorists, climate change, the abundance of internet and print journals, along with contemporary poetry’s “commercial irrelevance,” he feels that we are ”ripe for a revolution.”

According to MODERNIST POETRY AND THE CONTEMPORARY SCENE, Modernism is where we are now. Experimentation, individualism, anti-realism and intellectualism are characteristics of Modernism. The themes are a rejection of religion, history and social institutions. Poets.org. lists and describes many Poetic Schools & Movements of this period.

Trends of contemporary poetry were discussed recently at the University of Texas by a panel composed of Harvey Lee Hix, Brigit Pegeen Kelly and Dean Young and moderated by Rob Casper, director of the Poetry Society of America. Casper, a UT professor of writing and poetry and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. The audience questioned the panel about “the role of poetry in a postmodern society and the legitimacy of truth claimed in poetry in relation to other types of writing.” Casper believes poets are neglecting the conventions of rhyme and form, and are naive about poetry of the past. While the poet distrusts words, they are all the poet has to use in order to convey beauty and truth in the world. Casper claims that the eternal and metaphysical are uncomfortable elements for the postmodernists. Kelly admitted that she had written poems that she did not believe were true, even though she was trying to write the truth. The biggest part of the panel discussion focused on the question of the point of today’s poetry. Hix, a professor at the University of Wyoming, said that MFA programs are valuable, but may not be helping writers get published. Kelly added that she doubts the vast amount of poetry activity in the world today is found in American MFA programs.

In his book Modern Poetry after Modernism, Longenbach claims that it is wrong to say Post-Modern poetry could not break through with politics, history, or the individual, because these things were already found in Modernism of the first half of the century, but the critics only saw a narrow view of that era. Logenbach proposes a truce to end the battles between formalist and free-verse poets.

There is an interesting discussion on the Bloomsbury Review, albeit from 2004: "What recent trends in American poetry do you find troubling or worrisome?" By Ray González. This article posts concerns about the division of formalist and experimental poetry, shallow word play, the shunning of confessional poetry, the poet seen as celebrity, slam as performance, and the troubling phrase “return to verse.”

Please feel free to add articles on the subject and/or to comment on your opinion of the future of poetry. To read a comment on my other blog, click here.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

I am proud that I still have my dad. He is of the most impeccable character. One would have a hard time finding any fault in him. He is a wonderful father to his 3 daughters, grandfather to our 5 sons, great-grandfather to our 2 great-grandsons, (first granddaughter is on the way), and 4 adopted great-grandchildren. My parents were born at the beginning of the Great Depression. Dad was telling me about the WWII rationing of gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, nylon and even pepper. He, nor mom could understand why there was a shortage of pepper, maybe something with the ammo? At least they didn't have to worry about destroying planet earth back then. Perhaps they should have. But their water was clean, and the ozone layer still existed; then factories brought the air pollution. I wonder how bad it will get for us; the rationing of power and fuel.

My parents went through some tough times, put they pulled together, never apart... each playing their assigned role in our lives without question or complaint. Being born of that stoic generation, they often held us at arm's length, with strict rules for behavior and an expectation of success. They were not huggers, they did not tell us "I love you," in words...but we knew.

Dear Dad,

You were always such a hard worker, you built up a business, became your own boss and we traveled across the Southern states for years. Finally we landed back here, but you still had to travel. Although you were often far away, working long days and nights, I remember some special times just the two of us shared and how you sometimes spoiled me...like when you took me to the country store and told me I could have whatever candy I wanted, like the time I was running for princess in 2nd grade at the school Halloween carnival, and you pulled out an extra $20 (a lot back then) so I could win, like when the adults played cards and you let me be your partner, like when you took me to the car lot and told me to pick out any car I wanted, so I’d have a way to college. I wouldn't say, because I didn’t want you to spend much. But you saw me looking at the white Ford Granada with the half-vinyl red roof (I thought it looked like a convertible). It was $5,000 and you bought it. Yes, you were often gone miles away for many days, but it was because you were working to provide our family with whatever we needed—more than just material things, you gave me a solid work ethic, the security of home, support for my endeavors, and most of all, you gave me unconditional love.

Thank you, Daddy,

Your loving daughter

Halloween Princess Wynne and Prince Tandy My ex-husband and me with my '76 Ford Granada Beulah Hubbard Attendance Center 1965

Mississippi Writers Guild Conference

2010-06-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Don’t miss the Mississippi Writer’s Guild Conference held at the Riverwalk Casino in historic Vicksburg, MS on August 6 & 7. Pay by June 30 to get the early bird discount! You can register and pay online or by postal mail. Formal Critiques are available. The convention will begin Friday night, August 6 with Literary Artists Onstage, in which writers are welcome to read their short stories or poetry at this time. The convention continues on Saturday, Aug. 7, with the Opening Keynote Speaker and four workshops of your choice and ends with the Keynote Speaker and Panel Discussion. Authors may sell their books at the workshop, which is set up through the Lorelei Books Store. There will also be a silent auction to benefit our nonprofit writers guild. Please see the MWG website for all details. Here are the outstanding, nationally known presenters at our writer’s conference this year.

Southeast Christian Writers Conference

2010-06-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Writers from 11 states attended the Southeast Christian Writers Conference at First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on June 11 and 12, 2010. It was held in the beautiful and spacious Education building The gracious host was Joanne Sloan, who spoke about the most common grammar mistakes. Keynote speakers were Crystal Bowman and Edna Ellison.

Crystal Bowman has written more than 60 children's books. Her topic was on devotionals, story books, and board books for babies to age 8. Here she is blogging about the Florida conference where she was a speaker.

Edna Ellison had me in tears. Her stories are so bittersweet. One of them is at the top of the 101 All-time Best Chicken Soup stories. She made it clear that God’s plan for us is not always our plan; she never intended to become a writer, but look at her now! She wrote hundreds of devotionals her first year as a writer and is also an inspirational speaker for women mentoring women.

Irene Latham is poetry editor of the Birmingham Arts Journal. (My poem, His Shirts, is forthcoming in this journal.) What are the most important words in a poetry line? How do you avoid trite words? What words should be cut from your poems? Irene answered all these questions in her workshop. Irene has a heartwarming novel named Leaving Gee's Bend and a prize winning book of poems called What Came Before.

I attended Billy Beard's Screenwriting workshop because my son is interested in writing screenplays. He is a former writer for the Fame tv series, Trapper John MD, movie scripts for Warner Brothers, Twentieth Century Fox and Disney. His movies include Stars Fell on Alabama and Rebel Yell. Wow, I was amazed at how informative this workshop turned out to be in turns of simply how to write a story. He says that the conflict IS the story; you create it by heating it up. He was very inspiring as he encouraged us to look within us, no further than our own backyards to find our stories.

Jo Huddleston (not sure if we are related) gave an excellent workshop on short fiction, detailing the elements involved and advice on how to use fewer, but effective word choices. You can sign up on her site for a free helpful newsletter and a free "how to write devotions" book.

Betty Hassler, editor for Open Windows and Deacon gave us the inside news on how to approach and query an editor (gifts help, she jokingly says), Lavonne Stevens told attendees how to find an agent, George Daniels was the blogger guru, Cheryl Wray, author of "Writing for Magazines: A Beginner's Guide," gave us information on how to query magazines, Delbert Reed, author of Paul "Bear" Bryant gave a personality profile workshop, Carolyn Ross Tomlin spoke on how to be a prolific writer, Carla Jean Whitley, editor of Birmingham magazine gave advice on City and Regional Magazine writing, and Bruce Barbour, an agent who has been in the publishing business for 35 years offered personal sessions along with his workshops. Panel discussion hosted by Cheryl Wray pic below: Cheryl Wray, Edna Ellison, Betty Hassler and Bruce Barbour.

The conference was a great experience. I wish I could have heard all the speakers!

Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams added to Meridian's Riley Arts Center Walk of Fame Stars

2010-06-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

Tues, June 1, 2010 Meridian presented plaques to representatives of three of her finest writers— Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, and Tennessee Williams. Lt. Governor Phil Bryant was on hand to reiterate one of Mississippi’s promotional themes, Yes, we can read; and some of us can even write! Faulkner was a Pulitzer prize and Nobel prize winner, and Welty and Williams were both recepients of Pulitzer Prizes and Presidential Medals of Freedom. Paul Ott, a Missisisppi entertainer and Marty Stuart, with wife Connie Smith spoke at the ceremony.

Richelle Putnam, Representative accepting award for Eudora Welty.

The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center Board added their names in stars to the Walk of Fame in front of the beautiful MSU Riley Arts Center. The gold stars were placed on the sidewalk next to those of Jimmie Rodgers and B.B. King, who were added last year.

Marty Stuart, Mayor Cheri Barry, Connie Smith,

Lt. Governor Phil Bryant, Richell Putnam.

Marty Stuarts’s traveling memorabilia collection,"Sparkle and Twang," containing about 20,000 items will be on display at the MSU Riley Center July 10-Sept. 18. It is an interactive exhibit which tells the story of Stuart's personal experiences with some of the most famous stars of American roots music.

Poetry Submissions-Part 4: How to Write Poems

2010-06-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

It begins with an idea... a word sticks in your mind, becomes a metaphor; your muse whispers inspiration. You have to write it. How do you put down in words this idea in your mind? Does anyone want to read it? Will they understand what you mean? While we want to be original, we also want to be well versed in the craft of writing.

There is a wealth of information, both tools and resources, on the internet about writing. First, you should read and learn from other poets' works-- both classic and contemporary. Take classes, attend workshops at colleges or writers conferences, seek advice from published authors and check out the links here. Then proceed to writing your own poetry! And remember, poets are famous for breaking the rules.

Poetry Submission Deadlines for OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010

2010-06-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

Please click here for October-December submission deadlines!

Many More Birthdays-My Relay for Life Song

2010-05-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

My sister Barbra, a cancer survivor, asked me to write a song on this year's Relay for Life theme,"Happy Birthday." I was driving to Jackson for state chorus (I had four 5th and 6th grade students in it this year). It was a Thursday. Not having attempted songwriting in years, I had my doubts that I could do this in less than a month. I told her I'd try, but wasn't promising anything. As soon as I got off the phone with her I said something like, "God, if you have a melody for me, let me hear it." I gave it over to God to decide.

I turned on the radio for inspiration, but there was a country song on, not my favorite genre, so I turned it off and started thinking about words. I thought about how cruel cancer is, and how the victims would like to make it to just one more birthday. I thought about the suffering and the wish for a cure; and how Relay for Life is a gathering for family and friends to raise money for that cure. I thought about the remembrances for the victims as well as support for the survivors. I started humming these words and suddenly I had the first 2 verses of "Many More Birthdays." I took out my iPhone and recorded myself singing it.

When I got to the convention it was very hectic. That afternoon I went back to my room to rest, typed the words into the notes of my iPhone and came up with a chorus. Basically done.

When I got home that Sat., I wrote out the melody notes and chords, played around to get an accp., wrote that out. A couple of weeks later I played it on keyboard, taped it onto cassette. But I needed it on a CD. This took a LOT of time and research. I almost gave up, but wound up downloading Audacity to convert it into an mp3, using my webcam built in microphone and made a CD!!! The quality isn't great, but it works! woo hoo!

Now I get to hear Dinah Rebecca Lachney--a great singer who stood in line next to Kelly Pickler while trying out for American Idol--sing it Friday night (May 21st) at Scott County's Relay for Life in Forest, MS. (Pray it doesn't rain us out!) Dedicated to all the cancer survivors and victims! I'm sad to report that Jackie, the sister of one of my best childhood friends passed away a few days ago after a 24 year battle with cancer. She was 57. Pray for a cure!

UPDATE

Dinah Rebecca sang beautifully tonight! The sunset was gorgeous, pink clouds.

Poetry Submissions--Part 3 Getting Organized

2010-05-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

You have been writing poems for years--on scrap pieces of papers, in old half-used notebooks, on the back of cash register receipts, or even on bank deposit slips. Gather them and get ready to organize! Type them into a word document titled "My Poems" and follow the advice I posted on wordpress here

Poetry Submissions-Part 2 “Where”

2010-05-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

Poetry Submissions Part 2 helps to answer the question of where to submit your poetry/prose/essay/story/chapbook/art work. With so many journals, magazines and anthologies, the perfect place for your particular work seems to hide like a bird in the branches. Here are some resources that can save you a lot of time and research so you can have more time to write!

Poetry Submissions-Part 1 "How"

2010-05-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

my azaleas

How do you make a poetry submission? What are the rules? How do you format your document? Do you need a copyright? These are some questions I asked when I decided to submit my poems to journals and magazines. After many long hours of online research I found several helpful sites and made a list that became my "Bible" for making poetry submissions. I also got some helpful advice from the speakeasy at http://www.pw.org/connect , joined the Writers Guild and attended workshops.

The first part of my series on Poetry Submissions will be restricted to "how." The next two parts will pertain to "where" and "craft." Please click here for the rest of this article.

Tornados Strike Mississippi during our Mississippi Writers Guild Meeting!

2010-04-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went with members of the Meridian chapter of the Mississippi Writers Guild to our state meeting in Clarksdale. I was anxious about going because weather reports warned about possible tornados, damaging winds and large hail. We decided to wait for another group to follow us, causing us to leave an hour and 20 min. later than we had planned. We went through a few sprinkles and a mild rain before getting to the library where our meeting was held. The winds were fierce, however, almost blowing me off the sidewalk into the street while walking back to the car. On our way home, just before we got to Kosciusko, there were crews who had just removed trees off the road. There must have been a tornado there while we were in the meeting! Entire trees and trees with their tops twisted off lay on each side of the road and far back into the woods on each side, also. Reports claimed there was a mile wide tornado in Vicksburg, one in Yazoo City and one not too far from my home in the Chunky-Meehan area. There were 10 killed including 3 children, along with many injured. The tornado in my area only damaged a church. See this eerie picture in the Meridian Star is of an undisturbed table setting beside an entire wall ripped apart in that church:

http://meridianstar.com/local/x563632783/Tornado-strikes-rural-church

On the bright side, God was looking out for us and I was elected Mississippi Writers Guild Secretary!

From left: Richelle Putnam, outgoing President and Found of MWG; June Davis Davidson, Treasurer; Dr. Virginia Schafer, 2nd Vice-President; Ralph Gordon, President; Robert Ray, 1st Vice-President; and Wynne Huddleston Alexander, Secretary.

Book Release for the Delta Blues Anthology

2010-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

March 26-27 I attended our Mississippi Writers Guild (Delta Chapter) release party and book signing of the "Delta Blues Anthology" which benefits Morgan Freeman's literacy foundation, Rock River, thanks to the publisher, Tyrus Books. I had my picture made with Morgan Freeman! He took my iPhone after the picture and said, "That light is bad, let's take it again over there." That was so sweet, especially as there was a huge crowd lined up for photos.

Our guild also gave a $1,000 scholarship to a high school delta student who will major in the literary field, and awards were given for a student writing contest. The author pre-release party was at Cutrer's mansion where we met the authors (alas, John Grisham didn't make it) and had a tour of the mansion (of William Faulkner fame) including a ghost story. We had a blast at his Ground Zero Blues Club, and ate at his restaurant Madidi's. If you go to Clarksdale you must also check out the Cat Head Music/Book Shop. Here's an article about the book release if you are interested. http://www.pressregister.com/articles/2010/03/31/news/doc4bb1fb9997b5c306693209.txt
http://www.mississippiwritersguild.com/Delta_Blues.html

The Magic of Mississippi

2010-03-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

The Magic of Mississippi

The Magic of Mississippi

depends on many things—

cricket songs, watermelons,

and front porch swings;

prayers whispered inside

a little country church,

our deep, muddy river,

red clay and fertile dirt;

cattle in the pasture,

catfish ponds and pines,

the smell of honeysuckles,

plums and muscadines;

the orange harvest moon,

soulful music in the air,

a white magnolia blossom,

and days with little care.

--Wynne Huddleston

printed in "Today in Mississippi"

Book Signing Advice

2010-02-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

A friend posted this on facebook, "How to Conduct a Successful Book Signing Event" by Sally Watkins http://bit.ly/91kYlT via @JohnKremer. I haven't gotten to this point yet, but some of you may find it useful!

Remembering Dale

2010-02-14T17:03:00.000-08:00

This is in memory of my ex father-in-law. I was part of the family for 16 years and knew him most of my life. He was a good man known by folks far and wide.

Remembering Dale

Aug. 24, 1932-Feb. 9, 2010

To George Dale Alexander, everything

was either black or white—no gray,

no in between of wrong and right.

He loved to joke and pick; always

held out his hand in friendship,

served the public as deputy, supervisor,

and the board of the water department.

He made sure that every Sunday, his boys

attended church. They learned to play hard

and they learned how to work. During

the week without surprise you’d find him

at the stockyard, stopping on the way

at Williamsville to buy some groceries.

He was someone on whom you could

depend—faithful to God, wife, country,

family and friends. I see him now

with that curly black hair and wide,

welcoming grin, shaking hands,

meeting friends old and new, eating

an endless supply of Moon Pies

in his beautiful new home in heaven.

—Wynne Huddleston Alexander

Concealment

2010-02-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Concealment

When it descends, you can’t feel
anything,
but a cold, numb, awe
at how accumulated snow can make
everything—
the ugly, clinging mud, spilled garbage,
broken, fallen limbs;
the lovely, green blades of irises, red
flowering quince, angel statues—

give up their identity to become
one in an unspeakably beautiful world.

How God Uses the Holes in Your Heart

2010-02-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

The Heart as a Flute

I feel this is a message many people need to hear, especially near Valentine's Day, and I feel that God wants me to post this for someone who is going through heartache, as we all do from time to time. One of my friends read my poem, “Red Rock Bluff,” a few days ago while critiquing my poetry book. She called to tell me how it had made her cry, because she connected with it so deeply. The next day I saw someone on facebook who is in our writers' guild and requested that he be my “friend.” He emailed me that my little blog caused was what made him finally decide to join the writers guild in the first place. (What?) He said he was going to stop fighting God and focus on writing rather than singing (although he is a successful gospel singer). Apparently this is something he had felt God leading him to do, but maybe he hadn’t wanted to give in until now. I was speechless…I feel that my best works are not posted here, plus I usually only post poems for a short time, for fear of not getting a chance to have them published…so I was shocked! I’m still shocked! (Even if he really was thinking, I can do better than that! LOL) I wasn’t even sure anyone was reading my blog! I get chills thinking that God might use me for His purpose...but, then, He is the One Who gives me the words, when I allow Him to speak through me...whether worthy or not. Then I began thinking about the analogy about our being a hollow reed that God blows through, I had to do research. I found it is the very theme of “Red Rock Bluff.” More on this, later.

There are many cultures and religions that have a flute story. The

Hindus picture Krishna with a crown of colorful peacock feathers playing a flute. This is because they believe God's love must ultimately fill the whole body of man through his heart, which is like a flute. Buddhist Komuso were samurai priests with no masters. They covered their faces in a show of total selflessness, with only their flutes showing beneath the baskets they carried on their heads to collect illnesses or problems of others. This shakuhachi music, or Sui-Zen, would cause those who heard it to fall into a trance and lose their sufferings in the music. Rumi claims that the heart is first a solid reed, then the holes are created by the painful experiences we endure, causing the heart-reed to become a flute so that God may play his lovely music through us. It would seem to me that just the right amount of holes allows God to play the most beautiful music, providing we keep the path open for His holy breath. Rumi believed that the music produced by God through the instrument of our hearts is the only music that can raise the soul to eternal life.

Hopi legend tells of an eagle who allowed only those who could play the flute to dwell with them. They use the Eagle feather for prayers. I don't believe these teachings to be contrary to Christianity; one of my favorite Bible stories is about God lifting us heavenward on eagles' wings:

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 King James

This eagle was actually hand
sculpted & painted by my very
talented friend, Joey Horn!

http://joeyhorn.com/gallery2.html

The Heart as a Canyon

Red Bluff, "Mississippi's Grand Canyon"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3436904070_f0e3b058c6.jpg

“Red Rock Bluff” is about a place I visited with a wonderful friend who had invited me to Columbia so I could get away when I needed it most. He took me on his motorcycle (not an ordinary thing for me, but I loved it) to Red Bluff, “Mississippi’s Grand Canyon.” I was going through a very bad time, having been led down a path of thorny roses, and having been stabbed through the heart several times. When I saw that little canyon with so many different beautiful colors I immediately felt a kinship; but there was trash along the road in front of it, and trees losing their footing, falling over into it. I was angry. Then my friend explained that this is a privately owned spot without funds for clean-up of the constant visitors, and that the trees that fell, along with the corrosion from rain and the elements are actually what gives it the multitude of beautiful colors and causes it to keep growing (the road has been moved twice.) If you saw it in person, you would cry, too, for it is a mirror of the heart. I think my poem relates this story much better; I hope to find a proper place to publish it soon. “Red Rock Bluff” is visual proof that the holes in our hearts make us grow stronger, and allow God to play His music through our heart-flutes. And that, my hurting friends, is beautiful.

Reed Flute Cave in Guilin (China)

I'm sure there are more breathtaking places, such as Reed Flute cave in China, but look how long it took to become what it is today! It was named for the ludi cao growing in front of the cave. This "reed grass" is used for making flutes.The cave is 600,000 years old and about 240 meters long. http://www.visitourchina.com/guide/reed_flute_cave.htm

Mom's Proverbs

2010-02-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

Mom’s Advice

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

There’s a fine line between love and hate.

Take care of yourself—nobody else will do it.

No, it isn’t right, but you’ll get your reward in heaven.
Hold his feet to the fire, by crackedy.
It’s a man’s world.

me, Mom, Barbra, Donna...I was not happy

that mom made me have my picture taken in my pj's!

Title for my poetry book!

2010-01-31T14:03:00.000-08:00

Alaskan Reflection by Donna Huddleston Smith

I've finished my book of poems! It is almost all free verse and is about struggles in this life, God, finding beauty in the midst of strife, how we are all connected to each other, the loveliness of light and color, the music of the universe and seeing God in His world around us. I'm thinking of using the title of one of the poems, "A Glimpse of God." Other suggestions were "Finding Small Beauty," "The Universe Sings in Harmony," "Music, Light, Color: God's Mandala," and "Glimpses."

I'd love your opinion. I know it's hard without having read it, but the first and last word are "light", that wasn't planned, I just noticed it! The last poem is on here..."Paint the Light." Also, there are several poems about color, trees, music and how we are one in the circle of life.

Also, if you have any suggestions for publishers, I'd be grateful!

OK, google brings up too many "A Glimpse of God" titles. I'm thinking now more about the hum of the spheres, how we should listen for it and how we should look past the dark branches into the light, thinking...thinking... I don't want any of the old cliches.

Seeing Clearly

2010-01-30T18:25:00.000-08:00

This is for all of those who have disabilities...

Alaskan Seals, Photo by Donna Huddleston Smith

Seeing Clearly (temporarily removed)

This is from "Voices," a set of poems

1. Secret of the Shell
2. Finding Small Beauty
3. Mama’s Voice
4. Bittersweet
5. Chorus of Children’s Voices
6. Director of the World
7. I Have Not
8. Seeing Clearly
9. Finding Your Voice

Star of the Week in The Meridian Star newspaper

2010-01-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

Wow, I was surprised to be interviewed for Star of the Week in The Meridian Star newspaper Monday, Jan. 25, 2010! I didn't realize I'd be on the front page, either. The Managing Editor, Steve Gillespie, is a great writer. Somehow he managed to make an article out of the jumbled facts that I gave him. How do you condense your life in two columns? It's not easy and, obviously, you have to leave out a lot of things.

I've been so busy with my 4th grade musical (which I added to this year) that I haven't been submitting my work like I should. I hope I can get back on track with more writing and more submissions...and maybe some more acceptances?!? It seems that the more poems I write, the harder it is to figure out what should be submitted where. I really hate to tie myself down to one style or subject area. I'm...eclectic, I guess you'd say. I am fairly open minded and have many views, often conflicting, concerning God and my outlook on life. I also like many different genres of music. I'm a Gemini, how can I be tied down to any ONE thing? I suppose I need to concentrate and find an avenue. Awww..do I have to?

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

photo by Bernard Ellis

Reflections at Sunset

The sun takes a seat, reflects its rays upon the water--
respite from the heat of its long day. Dark blue clouds
frame the lovely view of orange, violet, and pink hues
constantly changing into different paintings. I sit on a
bench, tickling the sand with my feet as my mind replays
the shifting moods and varied venues of my own day.

--Wynne Huddleston

One of my resolutions is to be more positive. That's very hard to do with the gloom of 2012 hanging over our heads, the depression, the green scare, and the state of our government's affairs. But that is why it is more important than ever to be positive. I'm sure these negative things will continue to fuel my writing...but I will try to have a least a drop of water available for you after the scorching sun takes a seat at the end of the day. Blessings to you all.

Remembering Brother Leon

2009-12-17T21:08:00.000-08:00

A devoted deacon in our church died from cancer a few days ago. He was 87 years old and will be greatly missed.

Remembering Brother Leon

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of
Brother Leon is that when the church doors opened,
he was there. Gentleness, faithfulness and kindness
were his presents wrapped up in his broad, ready
smile. The next thing I'll always remember is his soft
spoken prayer for the elderly, "May their latter days
be their better days." Although it's especially

hard to let him go at this holiday season, we surely
know that his example of what a Christian, husband,

and father should be crowns his life like the shining

star we lovingly place on the top of the evergreen

Christmas tree. I'm certain that he would hope

the timing of his death would not make Christmas

a time of sadness, but rather a time to rejoice

that the Savior was born so that we may have

eternal life. Let us keep Brother Leon and his gifts

ever present in our hearts, and strive to make our own

lives a light that will shine just as brightly.

—Wynne Huddleston

What's Really Missing?

2009-12-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

Another poem I'm working on, to the young boy I saw in Walmart, but was too chicken to thank for his bravery.

What's Really Missing

(temporarily removed)

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia

2009-12-06T10:18:00.001-08:00

Check out Patricia Neely Dorsey's Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems, "a true celebration of the south and things southern." The author states, "There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. In my book, using childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life. I try to show that there is much is more to Mississippi and the south than all of the negatives usually portrayed. I invite readers to Meet Mississippi (and the south) Through Poetry, Prose and The Written Word."

SOUTHERN LIFE

If you want a glimpse of Southern life,
Come close and walk with me;
I'll tell you all the simple things,
That you are sure to see.
You'll see mockingbirds and bumblebees,
Magnolia blossoms and dogwood trees,
Caterpillars on the step,
Wooden porches cleanly swept;
Watermelons on the vine,
Strong majestic Georgia pines;
Rocking chairs and front yard swings,
Junebugs flying on a string;
Turnip greens and hot cornbread,
Coleslaw and barbecue;
Fried okra, fried corn, fried green tomatoes,
Fried pies and pickles too.
There's ice cold tea that's syrupy sweet,
And cool, green grass beneath your feet;
Catfish nipping in the lake,
And fresh young boys on the make.
You'll see all these things
And much, much more,
In a way of life that I adore.

Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey

from "Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems"

BOOK AVAILABLE: http://www.reeds.ms/books.asp or www.Amazon.com
AUTHOR WEBSITE: http://www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com/

Publications that Accept Poem Previously Posted in Blogs

2009-12-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

To my fellow poets:
I would really like to put my poems on this blog, but I don't want to banish them to the Never Never Land of publishing simply because many places will not accept any work that has been posted on a personal blog. I was happy to find the following publications that will consider them for publication. If you know of any more, please add to the list by posting them in a reply. Also, if I have an error, let me know. Thanks!

Avocet, A Journal of Nature Poems
Indiana Review
Mimesis
Shit Creek Review
Neon
No Tell Motel
Blue Fifth
Sleet Magazine
SmokeLong Quarterly
Inch
Qarrtsiluni
The Diagram
5x5
http://www.fallingstarmagazine.com/

These reportedly take them, but I couldn't find it stated on their sites:

Albatros
Barn Owl Review
Hobble Creek Review
Terrain

For JOURNALS THAT ACCEPT REPRINTS please click here

No Matter

2009-11-30T13:57:00.001-08:00

Stars and planets continue to roll

on the fingertips of God. No

matter what man does,

or doesn't, He's always in control.

Listening to the Muse

2009-11-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

I've been divorced for many years, now, and my sons are grown. One of my sons is married with children of his own. I found myself with time to listen to the muse and return to my other love, poetry. My aunt, who also loves to write, asked me to take a creative writing class with her on the graduate level at the University of West Alabama. I am so glad that I did. Poetry has changed a lot in the last, uhm, few decades! The professor insisted I write free verse. At first I hated it, but then I found it easier and that I could do it. I still write with internal rhyme, though. I love word play. Most of the time I get inspiration in the middle of the night. It's a good thing that I'm not married, because I'm sure that would be annoying, to say the least. At other times I am inspired by a word that pops out of someone else's poem or story, and sometimes I'm driving down the road and see or think of something that speaks to me. I'm not trying to become rich or famous; I just want to share these thoughts with others. I hope my poetry will spark a feeling, create a common bond, or inspire others.

My life as a musician

2009-11-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

I started piano lessons in 3rd grade. My mother wanted me to learn and I was happy to do so. When I was about 5 or 6 we lived by a piano teacher who let me "play" her piano. I think experimentation at an early age is very important to developing as a musician. My uncles on both sides of my family played guitars or fiddle. One of them even had an accordian. Uncle Hamp (real name was Denver, but Hamp was short for "Hambone") was a great singer and guitarist. He was my mother's brother. He sang on the radio and was invited to sing at the Grand Ole Opry, but he chose to stay home and sing all over east Mississippi until he went almost completely deaf. I used to say I was related to Beethoven because my great-grandmother, Epsie Witt was German and deafness was inherited. My grandpa, Uncle Hamp and his son Darren all became deaf. I'm so glad I didn't inherit that! But my point is that I was always around music as a child. We'd sit on the front porch, or gather in the kitchen as my uncles sang and played. I imagine that's why my mother also wanted to play piano. After we stopped living as vagabonds, traveling all over the south with my dad's telephone construction company, we built a house. Soon afterwards, my mother bought a piano, ordered a kit to teach herself piano, and signed all three of us girls up for piano lessons. I was the youngest and the only one that stayed with it. I will admit that after the first year with my 2nd teacher (the first was a boy related to Van Cliburn who moved away) I wrote all over the cover of my piano book "I hate music." My mother made me keep taking lessons. I didn't really hate music, but my teacher had not taught me to read the notes and it was hard for me because I don't play "by ear" that well. My first recital piece was impressive--I did broken chords and block chords up and down the piano. But I did learn my notes with the next teacher and I was back to loving music again. I'd cut out the notes in the music books I'd finished to notate the songs I composed. By 5th grade I was substitute pianist at our little country church, and by jr. high I was organist. I played for hours. My family would yell at me and slam the door shut to the living room where the piano was. That's when I started playing with the soft pedal down. I didn't stop lessons until I was out of college. By then my mother used to ask if I hadn't learned enough yet? I was amazed and said, "NO!"

I played clarinet in band from 6th grade til 12th, was a majorette in 10th grade, and drum majorette my last two years of school. I could do triple aerials with that big heavy mace... I miss band a lot.

The jr. college I attended didn't have a marching band, but they had the best piano teacher I ever had, Barbara Fortenberry. Because I was salutatorian, I could have gone to the local college for free, but I was determined to be a piano teacher, and her reputation took me there. As a music major I had to sing in chorus and take private voice lessons. I was terrified. I had sung in youth choir at church, but this was a different ballgame. Then, to make matters worse I was asked to accompany voice lessons. I had to sightread very difficult art lieder and Italian songs. Dr. Hermetz was very nice and had to calm me down and talk to me like a scared puppy! I finally relaxed and did fine. The director of the stage band, Mr. Sweatt TOLD me I was going to play tenor sax. I had never touched one before, but he assured me it would be no problem. Pretty soon he had me playing the solo in "Proud Mary" on the lawn of the college in front of everyone! I dabbled with writing a few songs. Gosh, I miss those days. I made all A's, got the MCC Music Award and chorus scholarship. Dr. Hermetz helped me get the USM chorus scholarship and off I went. I never joined a sorority; I was only in the Phi Theta Kappa because of my grades. I spent all my spare time practicing piano and voice and going home on weekends to see my fiancée. I was a good girl... didn't drink or party! I graduated with highest honors and married my high school boyfriend.

I had done my practice teaching at a great elementary and was offered a job there, but all I wanted to do was teach piano...and rest! Three years later I had a son and exactly 3 years later I had another son. During that time I was teaching private piano lessons at school. I formed a National Junior Federation Club for my students called "The Piano-forte Club." Orginal, right? But we won the State Loving Cup and my students almost always made superiors at the festivals. When my youngest son was old enough for pre-school I taught public school music at an elementary part-time, piano lessons at 2 schools, and I was church choir director and youth director! A few years later I gave up piano lessons in favor of becoming a public school teacher with guaranteed pay and retirement. I am so thankful to my teachers for talking me into getting the "education" in my music degree!

I have served as judge for the National Federation Festival, The Baptist Hymn Festival, and recently for local finals of the "Colgate Country Showdown." After my divorce I was choir director at a Disciples of Christ church for 7 years. Now I'm having a well-deserved break from church music. I'm sure I'll return when God leads me to the right position.

Getting Published: Just Starting Out

2009-11-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hi, I began submitting my poetry for publication in February this year, actually on my sons' birthdays (they were born the same day, 3 years apart). The very first poem I ever submitted (since jr. college) was a card I wrote for my mom and dad's 60th wedding anniversary (the day before my sons' birthday). I was so happy that Blue Mountain Arts optioned it, but I won't know for up to 2 years if it will pass testing. My poem, "Winter's Cackles and Kisses" will appear in Emerald Tales, "Winter Solstice," Special Issue on December 21. Some time in late winter my poem "Birthing an Idea" will be published in Waterways: Poetry in the Mainstream, Vol. 30, No. 4. I'm very excited!

Today my poem, "The Earth Gives Thanks" was read on the radio. The DJ called me 2 days ago and asked if I had a poem about Thanksgiving. I said, "No. When do you need it?" He said, "Tomorrow!" So, I wrote it and emailed it to him almost exactly an hour later as "poem #1." I kept thinking it needed more work, but I intended to write and send him a few choices, then editing some more. But he liked the first one, therefore, there was no poem #2...

Trimmings: Next...

2009-11-26T18:16:00.000-08:00

We gathered, said grace, ate turkey and trimmings,
had fellowship with family and friends,
the food and the plates are all put away,
and we feel too stuffed to move. But, then
already it's time to put up a tree
for Christmas with all of its trimmings, too!
**************************************************
Seems the holidays are too close together to ever find time to rest! I vote to move Thanksgiving to another day, but
when? Canada celebrates it in October, but there's Halloween. Any ideas? Let's start a petition! (just kidding)

Apostrophes

2009-11-23T19:43:00.000-08:00

Apostrophes

Apostrophes are my pet peeve.
Don't add them if they don't belong.
Don't add them if they don't contract.
Apostrophes have one long "e"
at the end and so does my name—

Wynne

Why I Write

2009-11-22T22:09:00.000-08:00

When the muse throws down inspiration like golden manna from heaven, I catch it— that small taste of knowing—and savor it in my mouth. Then I spit out the words on paper, let them dry, and try to arrange them into a poem that another human being can digest.

Wynne Huddleston's Poetry:::::::::::::: Finding Small Beauty

Tuesday's Small Beauty, March 6, 2012

Tuesday's Small Beauty Feb. 28, 2012

Natasha Trethewey, Our New Mississippi Poet Laureate

The Harsh and The Heart Free Jan 3 on Kindle

My Favorite Things at Christmas

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Christmas Giveaways

Holiday Shopping--Books and Coupons!

SPOOKY POEMS

Poems that Won or Placed in Contests

Mother’s

What Do You Know of Spring?by Wynne Huddleston

Chopin: Robbing Time

by Wynne Huddleston

Halloween Party Recipes: Frightfully Fun Food

Haunted Houses and Haunted Books

Mid-South Poetry Festival

100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE

Prayer of 100 Thousand Poets

A Decade Since...Don't Forget

Steve Forbert and Webb Wilder at Sucarnochee Revue

The Structure of the Hero's Journey as Related to Sonata Form

Flash Poetry Mob

Get it "Write"

Teacher Retirement Poem: Seeds You've Sown

Seeds You've Sown

Drunk Drivers ~ Different Roads

Mississippi Poetry Society Spring Festival 2011

APRIL!

Ebooks and Self-Publishing

2010--My Personal Review

Wonderland of Gifts for Christmas

Top 9 Ways to Kill a Thanksgiving Turkey (Again)

Poetry Submissions Due October-December 2010

2010 Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference

Poetry, Morality, Politics and Other News

Natasha Trethewey, Mississippi's Own

Songwriters in the Round Symposium & Celebration of Mississippi's Musical Heritage

Comeback to Fried Green Things...

Poets for Living Waters Poem

Self-publishing your Book of Poetry

The Arts for Preschoolers

Fourth of July, Fun, and Fireworks.

My Latest Publication News

Today's Poetry: Revolution at Hand or a Continuance?

Happy Father's Day

Mississippi Writers Guild Conference

Southeast Christian Writers Conference

Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams added to Meridian's Riley Arts Center Walk of Fame Stars

Poetry Submissions-Part 4: How to Write Poems

Poetry Submission Deadlines for OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010

Many More Birthdays-My Relay for Life Song

Poetry Submissions--Part 3 Getting Organized

Poetry Submissions-Part 2 “Where”

Poetry Submissions-Part 1 "How"

Tornados Strike Mississippi during our Mississippi Writers Guild Meeting!

Book Release for the Delta Blues Anthology

The Magic of Mississippi

Book Signing Advice

Remembering Dale

Concealment

How God Uses the Holes in Your Heart

Mom's Proverbs

Title for my poetry book!

Seeing Clearly

Star of the Week in The Meridian Star newspaper

Happy New Year

Remembering Brother Leon

What's Really Missing?

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia

Publications that Accept Poem Previously Posted in Blogs

No Matter

Listening to the Muse

My life as a musician

Getting Published: Just Starting Out

Trimmings: Next...

Apostrophes

Why I Write

What Do You Know of Spring?
by Wynne Huddleston