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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, January 14, 2011

W.S. Merwin Poem was Read at the Memorial Service for Victims of the Shooting in Tucson, Arizona Jan.12, 2011.


 Dear Nancy,

This message speaks to the inherent power of poetry, how we reach for necessary words at times when any words are difficult to find.

The recent memorial service in Tucson concluded with a reading of W.S. Merwin's poem  "To the New Year."
We share this poem with you and wish you peace in the New Year.
Sincerely,
Copper Canyon Press

To the New Year
With what stillness at last
you appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning

so this is the sound of you
here and now whether or not
anyone hears it this is
where we have come with our age
our knowledge such as it is
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible

—W.S. Merwin, from Present Company
 "To the new Year" was read at the close of the
memorial service by University of Arizona President
Robert N. Shelton

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks to Copper Canyon and you, Nancy, for sending out this exquisite poem-song by Merwin. So Zen-ish.

Maren O. Mitchell

Nancy Simpson said...

Hello Maren. Thanks for keeping in touch.

Glenda Council Beall said...

This poem added to the moving service at Tucson. Yes, we always find the words we need from one of our great poets.