{"product_id":"tall-flowers-and-living-long-9781959346975","title":"Tall Flowers and Living Long","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePeople rave over \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eTall Flowers and Living Long...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEvery syllable sings in \u003ci\u003eTall Flowers and Living Long.\u003c\/i\u003e Rose Creek comes alive. The doggies bark in time. The birds chirp and the sky changes in tune. Mary Ricketson's poems are inroads to humanity.\u003cp\u003e--Shelby Stephenson, N.C. Poet Laureate 2015-2018, NC Literary Hall of Fame since 2015, recent publications, \u003ci\u003eNin's Poem, Slavery and Freedom on Paul's Hill, Shelby's Lady, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Praises\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExperience the wonder and beauty of the natural world in Mary Ricketson's poetry book, \u003ci\u003eTall Flowers and Living Long.\u003c\/i\u003e Hike the mountain trails and observe the lessons nature teaches us. \"Come to Hanging Dog, see the farm...\" Welcome the lovely showcase this award-winning poet offers. This amazing collection articulates her relationship with nature. Discover the peace and healing power of nature as Ricketson sifts soil with her fingers and finds \"Garden Magic.\" The stirring collection will speak to your soul: \"Trust the Earth when your wisdom falls...\" This is a great gift for nature lovers and reminds us what we've lost in the hectic schedules of modern life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e--Brenda Kay Ledford, author of \u003ci\u003eBlanche\u003c\/i\u003e: \u003ci\u003ePoems of a Blue Ridge Woman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders who enjoy the nuances of nature will savor Mary Ricketson's Tall Flowers and Living Long. She confesses her son calls her \"a plant maniac.\" But not only plants. Early sections of the book focus on farming and flowers through the changing seasons and rhythms of everyday life. In Section IV winter arrives, along with death, and Section V highlights animals-dogs, mules, deer-who serve as our earthly companions. Ricketson's style is often clipped, and she relies consistently on imperative: \"Be like a soft mountain mist\" or \"Stitch a piece of life to this mountain.\" But these gentle commands are also invitations-to a world of wonder, for which the poet offers, in the final lyric, a chorus of thank-yous.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e--David Radavich, author of \u003ci\u003eUnder the Sun \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Here's Plenty\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eMary Ricketson's poems reflect the healing power of nature, a path she follows rooted in Appalachian tradition, with the surrounding mountains serving as the midwife for her words. \u003ci\u003eTall Flowers and Living Long\u003c\/i\u003e is a collection of poems written day by day, capturing her life closely intertwined with the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe is a mental health therapist in private practice in Murphy, NC, and enjoys writing groups, hiking mountain trails, and tending to her garden of vegetables, flowers, and blueberries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHer published poetry books include \u003ci\u003eI Hear the River Call My Name\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHanging Dog Creek\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eShade and Shelter\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMississippi: The Story of Luke and Marian\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eKeeping in Place\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLira\u003c\/i\u003e - \u003ci\u003ePoems of a Woodland Woman\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePrecious the Mule\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eStutters: A Book of Hope\u003c\/i\u003e. She won first place in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 75th Anniversary National Poetry Contest and earned gold and silver medals for poetry in the 2024 Literary Arts division of the NC Senior Games.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEngage with Mary at: www.maryricketson.com\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Redhawk Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51764071072018,"sku":"9781959346975","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_d50f29cd-8c80-4c31-b57e-d3c5514d397f.jpg?v=1764752114","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/tall-flowers-and-living-long-9781959346975","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}