Linda D. Parsons

Aug 21, 2024 | chapter16.org | Linda D. Parsons

William Woolfitt’s new poetry collection, The Night the Rain Had Nowhere to Go, pays homage to generations of his people in mine-riddled West Virginia. This vein is rich, calling forth his powers of language, lyric, and witness, and he follows a lineage of activist writers who both protest and grieve for the devastation of their native land, waters, and air: Maggie Anderson, Denise Giardina, Doug Van Gundy, Irene McKinney, Ann Pancake, Jayne Anne Phillips, and others.

Aug 1, 2024 | chapter16.org | Linda D. Parsons

Beautiful and twining for nearly 30 years, my front bed is dying. Two huge oakleaf hydrangeas, normally unkillable, then a rose bush, a baptisia, then, gasp, a luxurious native azalea scrolling like calligraphy. I’ve tried Iron-Tone, Acid-Tone, coffee grounds, eggshells, baking soda. Is it the soil? Critters? Old age? The new irrigation system? Nothing to do but yank them out. And wonder why, especially when all around their companions thrive. What secret Morse is whispered root to stalk to root?

Jan 10, 2024 | chapter16.org | Linda D. Parsons

As a southpaw, I sometimes turn left whether it’s the right direction or not. In workshops and readings, I gravitate to seats on the left, and my left shoe and sleeve go on first. My left hand is strongest. In photographs, the left is my good side. Or it was, until the moment I knew better, like all carelessness. Better than to bend close to my sheltie’s head so soon after boarding him over the weekend. Better than trying to spoon as we often do, taking in the other’s bestial scents.

Nov 16, 2023 | chapter16.org | Linda D. Parsons

Is Bobby Ray there? An elderly voice, dinnertime, before the days of caller ID. No ma’am, I said, you’ve got the wrong number. I’m sorry. Well, Happy Thanksgiving, almost. Will it be a big one? I didn’t tell her it wouldn’t be happy or big since I’d just lost my grandmother, actually step-grandmother, though I adored her all the same. Yes, ma’am, I said. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. I know Bobby Ray will be glad to hear from you. He better be! she laughed and we goodbyed.

Apr 20, 2023 | chapter16.org | Linda D. Parsons