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Nancy Simpson's LIVING ABOVE THE FROST LINE, New and Selected Poems was published by Carolina Wren Press (N.C. Laureate Series, 2010.) She is the author of ACROSS WATER and NIGHT STUDENT, State Street Press, still available on WWW at Alibris and Books Again. Her poems have been published in Southern Poetry Review, Prairie Schooner, The Georgia Review and other literary magazines. "Carolina Bluebirds" was published in THE POETS GUIDE TO THE BIRDS, Anhinga Press). "Grass" was reprinted in the 50th Anniversary Issue of Southern Poetry Review: DON'T LEAVE HUNGRY ( U.of Arkansas Press.) Seven poems were reprinted in the textbook, SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN POETRY,(McFarland.) Two poems were published in SOLO CAFE, Two more poems were published in SOLO NOVO."In the Nantahala Gorge" was published in Pisgah Review. "Studying Winter" was reprinted in Pirene's Fountain Anthology and "The Collection" in Collecting Life Anthology. Most recently, Southern Poetry Review Edited by James Smith, published "Our Great Depression," and The Southern Poetry Anthology Vol. VII: NORTH CAROLINA,Edited by William Wright, reprinted "Leaving in the Dead of Winter."

Monday, March 16, 2009

Who is Saint Patrick? Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?





The man we know as Saint Patrick was born in Britain between 387 AD - 390 AD to a Christian family who owned a villa and slaves to tend it. At age sixteen he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland where he became a slave, tending to sheep for seven years. Patrick escaped his captivity and returned to Britain where he was reunited with his family.

Later Patrick was ordained by the Catholic Church. He returned to Ireland where he was successful converting pagans to Christianity. He lived the rest of his life in Ireland although life was not easy for him there. He died on March 17, 461 AD. By the eighth century he became the Patron Saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick is celebrated throughout the world because of the myths that remain to this day. One myth is that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. Some believe it and others say there never were any snakes in Ireland to begin with. Others believe Patrick was a true saint and that symbolically, he drove evil out of Ireland.

Another myth surrounding Saint Patrick is that as a priest, he explained the Holy Trinity to his parishioners by using the three leaves of the clover to represent Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As ages passed, Saint Patrick’s birthday was acknowledged by an Irish priest, and the Irish family might have a large meal that day or they might not. Today Irish descendants around the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with feasts, with special Irish blessings, with shamrocks, with green, green, all things green.

On this special Saint Patrick’s Day, I send blessings to you. May the luck of the Irish be yours.



CAN YOU NAME THIS FAMOUS IRISH POET?





THREE IRISH POETS - Yeats, Heaney, and Mudoon.

Find their poems and read them. Or, Look them up on internet, and listen to them read their poems to you.

William Butler Yeats June 1865 - Jan. 1939

Seamus Heaney Born 1939, Nobel Prize Winner, Heaney is considered my many to be the greatest living poet writing in the English language today.

Paul Muldoon, born 1951 in North Ireland. 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Moy Sand and Gravel (pub. 2002) His 10th poetry collection, Horse Latitudes was published in 2006.

3 comments:

Tipper said...

Nancy-very good St. Patrick's Day post!

Nancy Simpson said...

Thanks Tipper, I enjoyed yours too. All I can think of is spring and lets bring on the green. It has been a
hard winter on the north side of the mountain this year.

Do you know what I like best about spring? I always say in my heart, I love spring because winter is a long time off.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Nancy, happy Saint Patties Day to you. We wore green today and had Irish stew. I am more than ready for spring.

Congratulations to you on receiving the "Fabulous Blog Award." I felt honored to be included among the poets and writers. Thank you for the kind comments about me.

Your blog is wonderful and it's great how you share your space above the frost line with other poets.

Now, you have to name your "Fabulous Five Addictions." I had a lot of fun with that part (it was hard to admit how much I love shoes but it's true). So now I'm anxiously awaiting your answers.

Sam