Poems

This modest collection opens with a lively glimpse into the very question that has haunted readers for centuries: what is poetry? A nationwide contest, judged by such literary figures as Robert Frost and Edwin Markham, supplies a brief, lyrical definition that frames the book’s purpose. Interwoven with that introduction is a tender sketch of the author’s own life—a Kentucky girl who turned hardship into night‑school study, church recitals, and a steady outpouring of verse.

The poems themselves travel from solemn tribute to Booker T. Washington, through quiet meditations on youthful hope and the promise of eternal peace, to stark reflections on the horrors of war. Each piece is rooted in simple, earnest language, drawing on faith, history, and personal memory to illuminate everyday struggles and triumphs. Listeners will find a sincere, heartfelt voice that invites contemplation and offers comfort, all while celebrating the enduring power of a well‑chosen word.