Mississippi Library Association

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems

Neely-Dorsey, Patricia. Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems.
Jonesboro, AR: GrantHouse Publishers, 2007.
90 pp. $15.00 (paperback)

In Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems, Patricia Neely-Dorsey has written, in poetic form, a kind of primer on southern life, manners, and customs. Her collection of seventy-two short poems is divided into seven sections: Southern Life, Country Living, Childhood Memories, Family History, Getting Personal, Intimacies, and Summing Things Up.

This is not the angst-ridden poetry of a tortured soul; instead, “Loving Me” and “Happy (With the Nappy)” reveal a woman who is happy, secure, and comfortable with herself. Free of strict meter,
but usually rhyming, Neely-Dorsey’s poetry captures images of nature, people, rural activities, social gatherings, and, of course, all kinds of food. “Hog Killing Time” depicts the tasks performed in preparing a hog for eating; “Country Doctor” paints a loving, respectful portrait of the poet’s father in his profession; and “Right to Vote” is a gentle reminder of the great difficulties that have been overcome, so that black people could vote in elections. It is clear Neely-Dorsey also enjoys playing with the rhythm of words and speech, as evidenced in “Neighborhood Groceries,” “Partyline,” and “Country Living.”

While Neely-Dorsey received her college education in the Northeast (shown in her lighthearted frustrations with northern expressions in “Boston”), it is obvious from “Mississippi Morning” and “If Mississippi’s In You” that she deeply loves the South, especially her native Mississippi. As she expresses in “Mississippi Through and Through,” “…I breathe Mississippi. I move Mississippi. I think Mississippi. I feel Mississippi. I am, simply, Mississippi through and through.” This little book of poems is recommended for all Mississippi libraries, and will move the reader closer to understanding just what a “Mississippi Magnolia” girl is.

Rick Torgerson
Cataloger
Delta State University

Entry Filed under: Book Reviews
Posted on: September 29th, 2009