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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."

Friday, April 3, 2009

JANICE TOWNLEY MOORE, POET OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2009

Janice Townley Moore is one of the most accomplished of the southern poets, yet certainly undervalued. She is a nationally known poet. Her poetry will be celebrated and featured here at Living Above the Frost Line. During this her birth month and this being National Poetry Month, we recognize Janice Townley Moore as Poet of the Month for April 2009.



A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Janice Townley Moore has spent most of her life in the small mountain town of Hayesville in western North Carolina and in the small Georgia mountain town of Young Harris where she is a member of the English Department at Young Harris College. 

She began writing poetry when she was a student at LaGrange College. Since those days, she continued to write, often inspired by her surroundings in the North Georgia/North Carolina mountains. 

Her chapbook, Teaching the Robins, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2005.  Individual poems have appeared in such journals as The Georgia Review, Southern Poetry Review, Prairie Schooner, Shenandoah, The Chattahoochee Review, JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), and Appalachian Journal.  She has poems forthcoming in The Apalachee Review and Main Street Rag. 


ONE OF MY FAVORITE JANICE TOWNLEY MOORE POEMS is

EVENING OUT

Atlanta, 1952

On days too hot for breath to be easy
my father left his desk in the cellar
to drive our Easter ducks, full grown,
to Piedmont Park for a swim.
Crated up in the trunk of our pea-green Plymouth,
they quacked and quacked the long three miles.
Our whole family went along for the show.
Without coat and tie my father sprawled
in the cool by the lake. I remember
how his wallet bulged in his back pocket
as he bent to unlatch the crate.
No pounding joggers then, only walkers slow as July
and a few children ringing the bells on their bikes.
A quite crowd inched forward to see the ducks
gliding over the dark reflections of magnolias,
sometimes flapping their wings
with the sound of sheets in the wind.
After paddling among the fallen petals,
they shored up for recrating,
lured by lettuce, as I watched
the late sun glinting off my father’s black shoes
sinking into the red clay bank.

first published in The Georgia Review
Included in TEACHING THE ROBINS,
FINISHING LINE PRESS (2OO5)

7 comments:

Tipper said...

Nice.

Glenda Council Beall said...

I'm so glad you are featuring Janice Moore, one of the BEST poets I know. This is one of my favorite poems by Janice but she has many that stick in my mind. I look forward to reading more of her poetry on your blog this month.

karenh said...

I recently purchased Janice's chapboop and just love it. This poem is also one of my favorites.

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Nancy,
I enjoyed your profile of Janice very much. She is a great poet and I enjoy reading her work.
Happy Easter!

off-line said...

Nancy, it is great to see Janice featured. I always enjoy her poetry. We are so fortunate to have her leading our Net West Poetry Critique Group too. What would we poets do without You, Janice and Glenda. Thank you!
Pat

Nancy Simpson said...

Thank you for your comments Tipper, Glenda, Karen, Brenda and Pat.

More about Janice Townley Moore later in the month
and a couple of her poems.

Anonymous said...

Nancy,
I agree with the others. This is one of my favorites poems as well. Thanks for sharing it.
Glenda Barrett