Betty Jamerson Reed is the featured poet of the month of December 2014 here Above the Frost Line.
ONE POEM
Sister by Betty Jamerson Reed
"Now, don't forget I love you,"
whispered her sweet lips.
"Pray for me. I'll pray for you."
Now lying alone in her grave,
body still, agony free, but
her voice echoes
this constant plea and promise,
"Pray for me. I'll pray for you."
I had begged, "God, please,
no more suffering.
Destroy that disease."
And death, a kind of healing,
has ended her pain.
from Out of Our Hearts and Minds:
Poetry, Prose, and Art from Transylvania Writers' Alliance
Pacher, Sara and Townsend-Borden, Catherine (Eds.).(North Charleston, SC: Booksurge Publishing, 2006), p. 117.
HOW POETRY HAS ENRICHED MY LIFE
by Betty Jamerson Reed
Since childhood, poetry has enriched my life. My father and I shared poetry during the routine of daily living. I love the music and images of the Psalms and Proverbs. In school I eagerly memorized poetry such as "Abou Ben Adhem," "The Daffodils," and long passages from Shakespeare. I still commit favorite poems to memory. In my study I have learned the power of brevity and the vast potential of poetry, especially in the work of Emily Dickinson. Poetry from the centuries has opened my mind to the enduring need of mankind to reflect on beauty and ugliness, war and peace, courage and cowardice.
The power of words is intoxicating. Words have the ability to ignite hope and to brighten shadows and illuminate darkness. I hope to write a poem that will enhance the reader's sense of humanity and stimulate contemplation about the human dilemma. Writing poetry remains a constant challenge, but it provides a rich creative outlet that is often therapeutic for me. (Betty Jamerson Reed)
Poet Betty Jamerson Reed, a native of Western North Carolina, is a retired educator. She is most known for being the author of two books documenting the history of segregated black schools: The Brevard Rosenwald School: Education and Community Building in a Southern Appalachian Town, 1920-1966 (McFarland, 2004) (Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies) and School Segregation in Western North Carolina: A History , 1860s - 1970s (McFarland 2011) (Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies).
an added note from Nancy Simpson
“Leave a comment please. It will be appreciated.” Nancy Simpson
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