Mary Ricketson Then and Now
One evening I answered my phone and heard the voice of a woman asking about my creative writing class at Tri County Community College. It was Mary Ricketson. She said she had been writing and hoped she might be ready to take my class. I said, "Yes, yes." Mary took the class and I saw that she was already an accomplished writer and poet. A while later some of my students asked if I would teach a workshop on how to get a poetry book published. That was one of the highlights of my teaching career. There were six women in that class that lasted for eight weeks. It was hard work, but the program was designed to guide them in getting their poetry collection published, not self published, but to actually find a publisher who would believe in their poems and finance the publication of their book.
Mary Ricketson and the others where asked to choose a partner to work with for the eight weeks. That meant three people would proof read the proposed manuscript: the author, their partner, and myself the instructor. The poets were also asked to read their entire chapbook while it was recorded on tape. Each got comments from the group and each took their tape home with them. It worked very well for Mary Ricketson and her partner who was Glenda Barrett of Hiawassee, Georgia. A few months latere, both woman called me on the same day, both saying the same thing: "My poetry chapbook has been accepted for publication."
I Hear the River Call My Name
is the title of MaryRicketson's chapbook
is the title of MaryRicketson's chapbook
"MANIFESTO"
My body knew
before my mind
made thoughts,
before my voice
found words.
Make peace with loss.
make friends with change.
A candle flickers.
Blue light drowns
in its own flame.
Secret shards
of hope surrender.
Let me live
where crystal clear creeks
slither over small rugged rocks,
slide through the smooth,
and rain and tears are welcome
as sunlight and laughter.
Where birth and death
run the same river bed,
I run my life.
by Mary Ricketson
from I Heard the River Call My Name
Do you want to buy this book? I hope so.
Finishing Line Press
PO Box 1626
Georgetown, Kentucky 40324
or order on line
COME to THE FOLK SCHOOL
Brasstown, NC
JANUARY 21, 2013
JANUARY 21, 2013
Mary Ricketson will be the fatured reader at this month's featured literary program POETS AND WRITERS READING POEMS AND STORIES, sponsored by NC Writer Network West and John C Campbell Folk School 7:00 p.m. in Keith House livingroom on campus.
Mary will be sure to read some poems from I Hear the River Call My Name and we're even more sure to hear
new poems from her recentlly completed full length poetry collection.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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