Civil Conundrum Continued

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

"The Bible Says" rounds out my contributions to the 2012 Robert McCurley-led poetry/photography project "Civil Conundrum" in which Randy Foster and I had the pleasure of participating.  Not only did we present the project at The Arts Company in Nashville, Tenn., (most of) the pieces were also featured in an exhibit at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and in the pages of the anthology Filtered Through Time.

Civil Conundrum Clips

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

This set of poems represents a portion of a collaborative project initiated by photographer Robert McCurley, who asked my fellow poet Randy Foster and me to write pieces based on his Civil-War-themed collection, Civil Conundrum.  This performance was held on Feb. 11, 2012 at The Arts Company in Nashville, Tenn.

Muckety-duck

I wrote the following poem for the Civil Conundrum project last year, but -- due to the current Duck Dynasty suspension controversy -- I felt it appropriate to post "The Bible Says" today.

The Bible Says

Where do these Yankees
get off?
We have God on our side.
If those godless Yanks
just read the
glorious Gospel of Good News,
they'd know that
we are righteous,
God-fearin' folk.
If those pagan
Union soliders
would study
the sacred scriptures,
they'd see
that we are obeyin'
the God of Abraham,
Issac and Jacob.
If those arrogant SOBs
would just have
the decency to
crack open the hallowed,
holy Word of God,
they'd learn
that havin' slaves
is part of God's marvelous,
master plan for mankind
and that ownin'
men, women and children
is a sign of the blessin'
of a just and jealous God!

Heck, if we
let our slaves go free,
all hell would break loose!
That's blasphemous!
No, sir!
That's foolishness!
If we did that
what's next --
our women folk
runnin' around
wantin' rights --
to read, write...
VOTE?
GOD FORBID!

Civil Conundrum coverage continues

I was thrilled to learn that our photography/poetry collaboration Civil Conundrum recently received additional coverage by The Leaf Chronicle.  Read all about it here!

Last Week of Civil Conundrum Exhibit

This week is the last week/end of the Civil Conundrum exhibit at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center.  If you've wanted to experience the exhibit but haven't made it to the Customs House yet, seize the day and make your way!  The show runs through Jan. 27. 

Civil Conundrum Chronicled

I am delighted to note that Civil Conundrum recently received coverage in The Leaf Chronicle.  I was finally able to see the exhibit at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in person last weekend.  What a joy to see poetry hanging on the walls of a museum!

You are invited!

I will be honored by the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center at an artist reception this Thursday, Nov. 15th, alongside my Civil Conundrum collaborators, poet Randy Foster and photographer/poet Robert McCurley.  Free and open to the public, the reception will be held at the Customs House from 5 to 7 p.m.  Join us!

Civil Conundrum at Customs House Museum

My collaborative project with poet Randy Foster and poet/photographer Robert McCurley, Civil Conundrum, will be a featured exhibit at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center Nov. 2, 2012 through Jan. 28, 2013.  Based on Robert's photographic exploration of the South's fondness for war, our poems will be displayed alongside Robert's fantastic photos.  Join us for the artists reception on Nov. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m.!

Civil Conundrum comes to Customs House

I just received excellent news regarding my poetry for the Civil Conundrum project.  My poems will soon be mounted and hung next to the photographs that inspired them at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in Clarksville, Tenn., as will the work of my collaborators, poet Randy Foster and poet/photographer Robert McCurley.  The show will run at Customs House November 2012 through January 2013.  More details to come!

Civil Conundrum Clips

For those of you who were unable to attend Saturday's Civil Conundrum performance (or for those of you who care to revisit the harrowing, humorous presentation), clips of the program can be viewed here.

The Art of Great Company

Thank you to all of you who attended today's performance at The Arts Company.  What a great group that gathered; what a great gallery!  Special thanks to Betsy, Carolyn, Chris, the Hardins, Joan, Josh, Joy, Rebecca and Sarah for their support!  A very special thanks to my partner in rhyme, Randy Foster, and especially to photographer Robert McCurley, who inspired the entire presentation.

You are invited!

Civil Conundrum
~ Civil War poetry by Randy Foster, Amy E. Hall and Robert McCurley, inspired by the photographs of Robert McCurley ~

Join us for a performance that promises to be both harrowing and humorous!

Saturday, Feb. 11th, from 2 to 3 p.m.
The Arts Company
215 5th Ave. of the Arts
Nashville, TN  37219

* Admission is free, but reservations are required.  RSVP to art@theartscompany.com or call 615.254.2040. *

Civil Conundrum Coverage

My current project, Civil Conundrum -- a collaborative photography-poetry program with Robert McCurley and Randy Foster, was covered in the Nashville Scene's latest issue.  Civil Conundrum is part of a larger exhibit called The South Through Eight Lenses & a Code.  For more information, visit The Arts Company's current exhibition page.

Tennessean previews my latest project

Photographer Robert McCurley has asked Randy Foster and me to collaborate on a photo-poetry project re: the Civil War.  Sneak a peek at The Tennessean's preview here.  More details to come!