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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, June 29, 2013

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO OUR OWN 17 YR BROOD II CICADAS


















Here Above the Frost Line, we were visited late this spring (2013) by the famous periodical Brood II  Cicadas. In Hayesville, North Carolina there was a great amount of talk and a front page news story. A specific area between Warne and Hayesville reported the loudest calls, sometimes described as "a high pitched electronic sound", " a fire truck siren" or "a security alarm going off."  

My family on Cherry Mountain recognized immediately that the 17 year Brood II Cicadas were back.  It's our third time to come face to face with some of these amazing creatures that live most of their lives underground. They come up, come out, and climb to the tops of the trees they've been living under, "all those years with so much life," to look for a mate and  to lay their eggs.  

Here at the end of June, they have died and their young nymphs are burrowing into the ground under the same trees. We find it sad for them to go.








3 comments:

Maren O. Mitchell said...

Oh, Nancy, I miss the cicadas, too - almost. It was my first experience with them, and they are clinging to 2 of my latest poems.

Joan Ellen Gage Admin said...

I timed this visit well, as the Cicadas were gone by the time we got here! Glad you got to "enjoy" them!

Nancy Simpson said...

Joan, They were loud here but I imagine even louder at your house because folks said Warne.