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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."

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Nancy Simpson Chooses Her Number One Favorite Love Poem on Valentines Day --"The Greeting" by James Haba

















The Greeting by James Haba

You have been traveling.
I can see it in your eyes--
the unknown roads demanding new belief.
The light of your will in submission
to the pattern bringing us together.

I have been busy waiting.
putting fresh flowers on the table
filling the lamps with kerosene,
arranging ( as well as I could)
everything, so that you might feel
that you had arrived
at the right place
at the right time.

Hello
I am so glad that you could come.
And in honor of our being here together
Let us make a scratch on the wall of the cave.
We could talk.
We could begin with idle chatter.
I'll start
I'll say, "I love you."



Believed to be James Haba's first published poem,
from Ten Love Poems Anthologized by
Robet Bly ( 1981)


2 comments:

Tipper said...

Nancy, I've never read the poem before-but I can see why you like it so. Thanks for sharing it with me.

Suzanne said...

oh I loved this poem...so sweet