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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."

Thursday, October 1, 2009

A Hello Note to Ruth Grubbs

(Here is a note sent to Ruth Grubbs, who wrote a poem about this tree earlier this year in April 2009, while taking a writing class at John C. Campbell Folk School.)




Waiting for Rebirth


Never turns branches loose

this scraggly old tree in the side yard.


Hovering like a Brillo pad

unabashed over the driveway

she has all the arms of her birth

and all the twigs sprung from these.


She has bird nests of seasons past

hidden well in the scrub.


She’s naked now, but promises new growth

and more twigs to her full figure,

blushing green leaves to flush out her beauty.


by Ruth Faulkner Grubbs


Written in class at John C. Campbell Folk School

April 2009, accepted and forthcoming in Poetry Guild Anthology



Look Now. She's a Buckeye Tree.


Students in my last writing class took home a lucky buckeye in their pockets.

3 comments:

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Nancy,
Thank you for sharing the wonderful poem about the buckeye tree by Ruth Grubbs. It's a great poem and the photos do a great job illustrating the tree.

Joan Ellen Gage Admin said...

I loved the brillo pad analogy! Very visual!

off-line said...

Delightful poem, every line!
I have enjoyed all of Ruth's poetry that you have so graciously with us, Nancy. I will look forward to more.