A View From My Window
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In A View From My Window Curtis’ poems run the gamut from childlike innocence to adult maturity on through older age. Themes range from skepticism to deep faith, from playfulness to dead seriousness, from admonishing the wayward to acceptance of people in all conditions of life. Her style ranges from traditional rhyme to free verse. The poems are arranged in 13 sections with the whimsical and light-hearted in “Light and Airy” and on the other end are themes of faith and spirituality in “Not By Bread Alone.” In the section “Life is Tricky” the poems show that even with the best planning and preparation there is no certainly of the outcome of our endeavors. The last stanza of “Game of Life” points up this viewpoint: I held steady in the turbulence and when I thought I was winning, out of nowhere life shot a three pointer and evened the score. These poems are not all doom-and-gloom and they also point out that “There is joy and happiness in playing the game of life.” Curtis has been intrigued with blues music since childhood and enjoys living in the Mississippi Delta where blues abounds. The section “Blues Makes Me Happy” is a group of five songs written in the blues tradition. In “Silly Girl Blues” she writes: You drove off my good woman who stood by me for years. You drove off my good woman who stood by me for years. Now all I have is dead weight who’s wet behind the ears. The part of the book dealing with childhood memories “Aliceville, Alabama ― A Nice Place to be From” expresses nostalgia for the abundance of wild fruit in her rural surroundings and the happiness that “The Old Home Place” has been preserved. In the poem “Beloved Industrial High School” Curtis alludes to the fact that with a high school diploma in the 1950’s the only jobs available to her class (African American) were menial and that they caught the bus headed north to find work. The end of the poem shows that change has come. In the section “Not By Bread Alone” religious faith and recognition of the gifts from God is the theme of many of the poems. In “My Spark” Curtis acknowledges the Divine guidance that has enabled her to navigate life’s journey. The poem “We Want Him Near” expounds on doubt and cynicism often expressed by skeptics but in a crisis we want to feel the presence of God: No matter how we wonder if God is still here when all else fails, we want Him near. People sometimes go to great lengths to avoid facing “Thy Inner Self” a group of poems dealing with the part of ourselves that we are not proud of. In “Not A Pretty Sight” there is the dreaded time in the middle of the night when one cannot sleep and sees his, “…soul lying bare”: You can’t stop looking at your secrets, fears, failings, and stupidity— things that you have not told a soul and wish that you could forget. After these episodes, we follow the routine and, “…Vow not to leap more on the ugly pile of regrets.” Women becoming senior citizens will be nodding their heads in recognition when reading the poems that speak frankly about changes in the aging process. They are enumerated in “Biological Clock” from the “Light and Airy” section: Tick ─ a new joint pain Tock ─ stronger glasses Tick ─ loss of night vision Tock ─ slowness of recall This theme runs through, “The Mile Beyond Midway”, in the section “Life is Tricky“ and “Calm Before the Storm” in the section “Observing People.” Persons of all ages will find parts of the book that resonate with their stage of life or frame of mind.
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About the Book
In A View from My Window, Marjorie’s poems run the gamut from childlike innocence to adult maturity on through older age. Themes range from skepticism to deep faith, from playfulness to dead seriousness, from admonishing the wayward to acceptance of people in all condition of life. In the collection of poems, no topic is too mundane or too minute to expound upon e.g., a ray of sunshine or a garden gnome. Marjorie writes poignantly about excessive eating and weight gain, loss of loved ones, relationship problems, loneliness and despair, as well as exuberant joy in nature, friends, family, travel, and memories of bygone days. Upon reading the poems, one can tell that Marjorie enjoys life, even with its heartache and uncertainty, and that she is a keen observer of people. Marjorie Curtis was born and raised in Aliceville, Alabama. She presently lives in Greenwood, Mississippi.
About the Author
About The Artist Jesse Hughes, Jr. a native of Greenwood, Mississippi, developed a passion for art at an early age. In his work, Jesse often uses contemporary simple concepts combined with a strong traditional technique. He creates art that evokes human emotion through color, light, and form. Jesse’s artwork has been featured in numerous galleries, festivals, and private collections throughout the Mississippi Delta. In 2005, Jesse was awarded first place in the 2005 U.S. Congressional Art Competition in Washington, D.C. He is a 2005 graduate of Amanda Elzy High School and a 2010 graduate with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts with emphasis in sculpture at Mississippi State University. Jesse is well on his way as an artist and is continuing his studies at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) Graduate School of Architecture in Tallahassee, Florida. Jesse now passes his knowledge on by volunteering at local schools and various youth programs while completing school. About The Author Marjorie Curtis, a native of Aliceville, Alabama, attended Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama and the School of Library Service at Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. She worked as a librarian at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi until her retirement. Marjorie served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Monrovia, Liberia and she has traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, China, and Japan. She is a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Cotillion Federated Club, and the Bookmarks Literacy Club. She and her husband, the late Joseph W. Curtis are the parents of four children. She is a resident of Greenwood, Mississippi.