Magnolias

Recently, I was the lucky recipient of an autographed edition of Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, a Life in Poems, by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

The poetry is divided into five sections: Southern Life, Country Living, Childhood Memories, Family History, Getting Personal, Intimacies, and Summing Things Up. Picking my favorite section is difficult, but Southern Life would edge out the others.

Patricia' s writing style is direct and her message or story is easy to understand.

By painting word pictures in poetry, Patricia stir memories of my own Southern Life with images like 'mockingbirds and bumble bees,' 'chirping of the crickets,' and 'fireflies are taking flight.'

In the section, Country Living, I related to two poems, Baptismal Sunday and Preaching Sunday.

The section, Childhood Memories, triggered memories of physicians' house calls with Country Doctor (yes, I can remember that!) and magic Christmas mornings, Childhood Christmas 'to catch ole' Santa in his tracks.'

One Room School and Right to Vote are among the topics in Family History which also includes two poems about her son, Henry. Henry is a popular family name for several generations. In my family it was Paul.

Inside Me describes the authors spirit and soul, 'Butterflies spread their wings, And a new life awaits,' in the Personal section. A poem entitled Boston (Language Barrier) tickled my funny bone and triggered my memories of moving from Texas to Baltimore, MD immediately after my wedding. Salvation also triggered personal memories.

I can empathize with Patricia's lament in The (Un)Domestic Diva with a simple me, neither!" This poem is in the Intimacies section.

Summing Things Up, a collection of four poems about Mississippi, contains the title poem, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia.

Perhaps I have stirred your interest in Patricia's first book of poetry. According to the back cover about the author, she is completing a second book or poetry entitled, The Secret Garden of Love.

Copies of this book are available at Reed's Gum Tree Books
e-mail: books@reeds.ms .

Contact Author :
Patricia Neely-Dorsey
1196 CR 681
Saltillo, MS 38866
(901) 848-6800
e-mail: magnoliagirl21@yahoo.com
website: Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia
http://patricianeelydorsey.webs.com/
Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems " a celebration of the south and things southern""Meet Mississippi Through Poetry, Prose and The Written Word"

Publisher: GrantHouse Publishers
2101 Green Leaf Drive
Jonesboro, AR 72401
e-mail: granthousepub@aol.com
website: granthousepublishers.com