Customer Reviews

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was priviledged to purchase this "little book of poems" first at a book-signing, and to hear many of them read in the authors own musical voice. I must say that as I read the remainder of her poems, it was her voice that I heard intoning the words, her soft Mississippi accent hitting the syllables just right, playing like a haunting melody from yesteryear in my head.

I am a native Mississippian. I know exactly of what the author writes. I have lived it. Mississippi flows through my blood in ways that are nearly inexplicable, and yet, Neely-Dorsey has largely explained it through her poetry. Reading her poetry is like coming home to myself. No gloom and doom here. No head-scratching, dictionary-hunting,"what-the-heck do they mean by that?" poetry. Just straight from the heart and memory, in an easy rhyming fashion that anyone from youngsters to older folks can read, understand, and delight in. There's beauty, as in "Mississippi Morning", humour and wit, as in "Shades of Lovely", and state pride, "Mississippi Through and Through". My personal favorite, the achingly deceptive, "Right To Vote", written in her typical lighthearted manner, chronicles the bitter struggles blacks went through for that right. It moves me each time I read it, and I read it again and again.

Poetry is a lyrical means of expressing oneself. I would say Patrica Neely-Dorsey has made an excellent start.

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems by Patricia Neely-Dorsey (GrantHouse Publishers, 2008).

A review by Terry Thornton
(...)

It was a pleasure to read Patricia Neely-Dorsey's collection of poems, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems. Neely-Dorsey presents perhaps the most positive view of growing up in Hill Country of any current author I've found --- she is Mississippi first, second, last, and forever! She is a true Hill Country resident and her life experiences are lovingly recorded in her most readable poems.

Not only do her poems read with a voice of true Southerness, her poems are also pleasing to hear --- I think that some of them are best heard as songs of the South. Many of her poems caused a smile to form and some even caused me to laugh out loud. But it was the ones which caused my heart to sing that I'll treasure most along with the ones which caused tears to form in my eyes.

Reading Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems was an emotional experience for me. Neely-Dorsey's accounts of her life experiences are so vivid and so true to the region that what she writes of Lee County, Mississippi, could be universal events throughout the Hill Country and elsewhere. She came of age some twenty-five years after I did and she was across the vast racial divide many erroneously think defines Mississippi. Her experiences and memories, however, recorded as poems paint an accurate picture of hill country living as I too remember it.

The solid foundation for life which Neely-Dorsey received parallels the foundations which most parents were building all across the Hill Country --- and no matter that her life experiences were from Saltillo and Tupelo, they are remarkably similar to those of Parham and Splunge. And we are all the better for having these shared experiences which Neely-Dorsey explains as "having Mississippi in us."

My greatest surprise (and the greatest comfort) found in Neely-Dorsey's book is that those of us blessed by having Mississippi in us are more alike than different. She writes with a clear voice for all Mississippians --- and the fact that she writes from the black perspective in a positive and loving way about her family, community, and region makes her book required reading.

The hardest task for me was to select three of Neely-Dorsey's poems as representative of her book -- so I selected four. Her recollections of country living paint compelling memories of country breakfasts and cures and of slopping hogs, cooking cracklings, hog killings, pea shelling and going to church for preachings. Her account of a "Baptismal Sunday" brought back many memories of Parham Pond and standing on Jordan's stormy banks watching friends and neighbors be submerged in the water. It was most difficult not to select a poem from that section of her work.

Further, it was difficult to not include her "Shades of Lovely" in which all of the hues of women of color are described in the most delicious terms: honey, spice, brown sugar, brown rice, nutmeg, cinnamon, gingerbread and toast, pecan, almond, walnut, coconut cream, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, coffee, coffee with cream, coffee black, espresso, mocha, cafe an lait, banana, licorice, hot fudge --- did I miss any? One cannot read "Shades of Lovely" by Neely-Dorsey without smiling!

But the following four poems were selected because of my interest in preserving and presenting the history of the Hill Country. The first two poems presented below, in my opinion, offer a little slice of history and viewpoint not widely available and the last two presented offer an explanation of how Mississippi gets in a person (Rules) and what it means to be a Mississippian.

Country Doctor
by Patricia Neely-Dorsey, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, page 30-31.

My dad was a country doctor
And I have such memories galore;
I even remember the house calls,
As he literally traveled 'round door to door.
Sometimes, on Saturday mornings,
When I was just a young thing;
My daddy would let me go with him,
As he did all his doctoring.
He'd have his black bag in one hand,
And his stethoscope wrapped 'round his neck
He was most definitely the captain,
And I was his first man on deck.
We traveled way deep in the country,
And there were always such sites to see;
Believe you me, I noticed them all,
Down to the last bumblebee.
I'd always meet really kind people,
As I stayed close by my daddy's side;
He'd always give my introduction,
As he stood there beaming with pride.
Many of the people had no indoor plumbing,
And most of them were all very poor;
So my daddy would let patients pay him,
With whatever it was they'd procure.
Sometimes, he took brown eggs or slab bacon,
Fresh vegetables, hams and the like;
All of this was so amazing to see,
For me as such a young tike.
The old women, he'd always call "young lady",
But old and young all addressed him as sir,
We'd make so many stops on our journey,
I'm quite surprised that it's not all a blur.
I remembered learning about all of these people,
And all of the crops that they grew,
Each time, I'd learn something different,
Each time, I'd learn something quite new.
My eyes would grow wide with excitement,
As I saw all the animals and stock;
We'd see so much beautiful scenery,
As we'd drive to our next door to knock.
My dad had such a busy schedule,
I can't imagine how he got it all done;
All I remember is I loved tagging along,
And all I remember is fun.

Right to Vote
by Patricia Neely-Dorsey, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, page 53

I love to hear the stories,
That my mama and daddy tell;
Sometimes, we'll just sit a while,
And they'll talk for a spell.
They've told me of how hard it was,
For them to get to vote;
They'd go down to the courthouse door,
And there would be a note;
"Out To Lunch" or "No One's In,"
"Come Back Another Day,"
In all kinds of ways you wouldn't believe,
They were turned away,
Even when they did get in,
There were more hurdles they had to cross;
They'd be asked to answer questions
That would put anyone at a loss,
"How many bubbles in a bar of soap?"
"How many pennies in that jar?"
"How many miles to a star?"
It seems almost incredulous
That this was how it was;
But, believe you me, no matter what,
I vote, now, just because.

The Rules
by Patricia Neely-Dorsey, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, page 6 - 7.

Most Southern folk have rules we're taught,
From when we're very young;
And most of us throughout our lives,
To these rules have clung.
Life can be much easier,
When you know what to do or not;
And you're sure to learn a lot of them,
If Southern parents you have got.
One of the first rules you come to know is
Children are to be seen and not heard;
It's best if you just sit down somewhere
Quietly as a bird.
You always say "Please" when you're asking,
And "Thank you", when you receive;
You address all your elders
As "Ma'am" or "Sir",
And if you don't do it, you'll grieve.
Don't touch anything in the store,
Keep your hands to yourself;
If it's not something you plan to buy,
Leave it soundly on the shelf.
Always say good morning,
Soon after you awake;
And always greet people pleasantly,
If friends you are to make.
Don't slam a door as you walk out,
"You don't live in a barn;"
You'd better close it gently,
Is what they'd always warn.
If you open a cabinet or anything,
Always close it back;
Once you do it repeatedly
You'll always have the knack.
Don't call someone before 8 a.m.,
Or after ten at night;
If it's something you feel you must do,
It's an urge that you must fight.
Never ask for food when you visit,
Although the host may ask;
Sometimes it's best if you decline,
And let the moment pass.
These are just a very few of the things,
We Southerners are taught;
Without some rule for every occasion,
We are never caught.

If Mississippi's In You
by Patricia Neely-Dorsey, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, page 86.

If Mississippi's in you,
It'll always be that way;
It matters not how far you go,
Or how long you stay.
If Mississippi's in you,
It always plays a part;
In how you live and move and breathe,
And in every notion of the heart.
If Mississippi's in you,
It's in you through and through;
It's who you are and how you be,
And it's in everything you do.
If Mississippi's in you,
There is some special glow;
A different something down inside,
That all the home folks know.
If Mississippi's in you,
It'll always be that way,
From the time you enter in the world,
Till in the grave you lay.
Every true Mississippian,
Can surely have it said:
"I'm Mississippi born,
I'm Mississippi bred,
And when I die,
I'll be Mississippi dead."

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems is mighty fine reading for all who love the South and Mississippi and the Hill Country in particular. Neely-Dorsey offers those of us who already have Mississippi in us a reason to celebrate our good fortune and offers those from "off" a unique opportunity to start learning about the riches to be found in the Southern experience.

Patricia Neely-Dorsey, a native of Lee County, is a 1982 graduate of Tupelo High School. A graduate of Boston University, she currently lives in Tupelo where she is working on a new volume of poetry.

The book Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems, is available at Reed's Gumtree Book Store (Tupelo) and online at amazon.com. The author may be contacted at her website (...)

She will be in Fulton February 26 for a poetry reading and book signing at Itawamba County Library, Lunching With Books. Noon.

Patricia Neely-Dorsey will be the guest speaker at the Itawamba Historical Society monthly meeting, March 16, 6 PM, at the Society's auditorium in Mantachie (at the Corner of Church Street and Museum Drive). The public is invited to all meetings of the Itawamba Historical Society.

I don't think I've ever picked up a book that brings back as many memories as Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia. And the memories were all good memories. It made me remember growing up in the south and participating in the activities the poems represent. From the "Partyline" which talks about growing up with a telephone number shared by others, to the "Baptismal Sunday" which took place in a pond instead of a baptismal pool, and on to the "Making Cracklins" which I can still see my grandmother doing.

I have many favorites in this little book of memories but two that touched me the most were "Shelling Peas" and "Slopping Hogs." These two poems really took me back to my childhood while growing up in the south. So, if you are a Southerner and would like to awaken some memories of when life was more laid back, this book is a must read. If you're not from the south, reading Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia will let you see what you missed. For me, this is a book I'll cherish forever.

I am a Southern girl through and through and wouldn't trade my Southern roots for anything in the world. Although I'm not from Mississippi like poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey, I could definitely picture myself in the memories she so vividly portrayed in her collection of poetry, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia. With each poem that I read, I would find myself reflecting on my own childhood and smiling fondly at the memories each piece evoked.

This book is divided into seven sections - southern life, country living, childhood memories, family history, getting personal, intimacies and summing things up. The poems in each section allow readers, whether from the south or not, a brief glimpse into the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make up the uniqueness of the South.

While I could relate to almost every poem, a few that really spoke to me are "Inside Me" (p. 61), "Shades of Lovely" (p. 70-71), "Bookworm" (p. 72) and "Salvation" (p. 73). These pieces of prose touch on the person that I am, the beauty that is me and beliefs that I hold dear.

Poetry is not a genre that I read on a regular basis and I honestly can't say why that is. What I do know is that Dorsey's skills as a poet come shining through in this wonderful collection of real life inspired pieces.

Renee Williams
All the Buzz

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia was a new type of read for me. I enjoyed the variety of different poems because it focused on so many different aspects of the south. There were poems on food, men, the south it self, cultured, the way people in the south acted. I am from the south and Patricia Neely Dorsey was on target when she described how we ate what we thought and what we liked. I would recommend this read to any poetry lover and for any one who is trying to understand the south more. I personal know that I am a southern girl and this book helps depict a little of me.

Tanya
AAMBC Reviewer

This outstanding work by Patricia Neely-Dorsey is a must-read for everyone. It is a compilation of Neely-Dorsey's poems that's exceptional entertainment and a great read too.

Get the book and get comfortable because when you begin reading her work you are not going to put it down until you finish it.

The writings cover personal and shared experiences from Neely-Dorsey's childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, marriage and motherhood. It is 'a life in poems.' Neely-Dorsey not only writes about these occurrences, she celebrates them. The poems take the reader back to their upbringing and maturation. It was gratifying to read her work as I reminisced about my life. Neely-Dorsey opens your mind and successfully instigates personal reflection and ultimately celebration of the events and occurrences we all have in common.

Her writings are heartwarming, insightful, funny & thought-provoking.

Despite the great title, the book is not just for Mississippians. Anyone, whether they are from the Deep-South, the Mid-West, the East Coast, Mountain States or the West Coast will find they actually share many life experiences with the author. The genius of Neely-Dorsey's book is her ability to not only capture her life in poetry; she also places our lives in the proverbial nut-shell.

The book transcends generations, gender and locale.

GET THE BOOK!

You will enjoy every minute you read this breakout work.
You will recommend the book to friends.
You will read it over and over.
Years from now you will boast about purchasing and reading Patricia Neeley-Dorsey's first book.

Make sure you tell YOUR friends about this excellent book!

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems is a great little book of life and love felt in Mississippi. It takes you back to those grandma and grandpa days in rural Mississippi. Reminding us of our up bringing and the continue love for our beloved home state and those we knew and grew up with. Makes you remember all the great people, foods and places there. Whether it was a dirt road, gravel or even paved city streets. There nothing in comparison to Mississippi. And this book takes you back there. You can enjoy this book whether you are poet or not. It's just that good. Congratulations Mrs. Neely-Dorsey on Poetry in Motion. Savvy Book Club, Jackson,MS

I was introduced to Patricia and her book through an interview she was doing with Ella Curry for Black Authors Network, on Blogtalk radio. She was absolutely charming and in discussing her book, she brought back so many memories of spending my summers, in the south with family. Just hearing her accent, took me back to being a carefree kid enjoying the simple ease of southern living. Great food, uncomplicated life, unsophisticated, easy, and running through grass with no shoes on. Being a "Big City Girl", this laid back country life at first was unnerving. I am a New Yorker. So this was a whole new world that I learned to embrace, and appreciate, over time.

When I got Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, I started reading her "reflections" I fell in love with southern living all over again. Patricia speaks of everything from food to family, and all between. Her poems were a pleasant trip down memory lane.

It later dawned on me that maybe that's where my affection for Magnolia bushes came from.
I had the extreme pleasure of featuring Patricia on my blog. Please stop by www.simplysaidreadingaccessories.blogspot.com

I adore poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey's new book Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems. Her's is a good life! The poems are upbeat, bouncy at times, and make me proud to be a Mississippian. They are positive to the core, even the "Right to Vote" which is her parents struggle to check the ballot in Tupelo, Mississippi. It might easily lean to the bitter, but the last stanza of the poem affirms the positive:

It seems almost incredulous
That this was how it was;
But, believe you me, no matter what,
I vote, now, just because.

At times I hear past U.S. Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, in her voice. It is amongst her shorter poems, he stands out such as "Turning 40."

When I turn 40,
I felt so brand new;
I bought a bikini,
And got a tattoo;
For some unknown reason,
I felt more alive;
I can't imagine what'll happen,
When I turn 45.

In the section title "Getting Personal" Patricia wrote a poem based on the many different takes on her name. For example, it begins:

Patty, Patty Cake, Patsy,
Tisha, Trisha, Trish;
I've got more names that I am called,
I can't even begin to list.

In this poem titled, "Name Calling," I want to add two more deserved monikers. She should be called Magnolia after the title of her book; although, I shorten it gladly to Maggie.

I can almost hear her voice reflected through the sounds of southern summers, magnolia trees, southern folk rules, slopping hogs, and shelling peas. Never imagined I would learn as much in such a short amble about molasses talk, or flowerpots made from rims, muscadines ripening on vines, tupelo gum, or how to make cracklings and where the Southern man gets his stroll.

`ole Miss is what I call her... where her grassroots, just as Patricia un-harnesses in a voice spilling like silk magma, stems from simple, basic, uncomplicated country living.

My favorites; Our Place and Southern Man.