Sunday, April 26, 2009

National Poetry Month

I'm a little late in acknowledging National Poetry Month since I only recently learned of it from one of our reader's comments. But at least it's still April. A couple of days ago Outer Banks poet, R. Wayne Gray, from Wanchese, stopped by to pay me a visit. He left one of his poetry booklets, The Shotgun Boogie Blues. In honor of all of our local poets, and National Poetry Month, I am including Wayne's poem Great Blue Heron Revisited for your enjoyment:

In the rugged marshland,
Above the tidal pools,
The majestic blue soldier
Emerges through early morning mist,
Quietly working his way down
To where he will begin
Standing in his own shadow,
Mesmerizing tiny minnows,
His beady eyes
As swift as his sharp beak.

A fisher, he is a part of the land,
His movements uncannily ghostlike,
a ruffled painting of blue and gray.
Bent bullrushes cover his ghostliness
As he patiently stalks his prey.

The wildness and stillness,
Sacred to him,
As he follows the swampy shoreline,
His movements more graceful
Than a dancer.

Wayne Gray is Dare County's Poet Laureate, and his books of poetry are available at Manteo Booksellers. Click here to see a photo of Wayne and to order his newest book, Maggie's Drawers Creek. If you want The Shotgun Boogie Blues you will probably have to email or phone Steve at Manteo Booksellers.

In our latest Ocracoke Newsletter I share information about our many local cemeteries, with examples of some of our more interesting epitaphs. You can read it here.

To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:52 PM

    That is a lovely poem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6:02 PM

    I have decided I am in love with Wayne Gray.

    ReplyDelete