Sacred Fire
Brenda Kay Ledford
Brenda Kay Ledford's appreciation for her Appalachian
heritage played out beautifully in her poetry chapbook, Shew Bird Mountain. The
collection of brief, but powerful odes to mountain life delivered the
reader
directly into the heart of rural North Carolina. Ledford presents
another dose of rustic
nostalgia in her newest release, Sacred
Fire.
Sacred Fire opens
with the poem "Where I'm From," a tribute to simple times. Ledford
illustrates
the contrast of brand and nature with the first two lines:
I am from
patchwork quilts,
from Lava soap and lavender.
In one sentence, Ledford embraces handmade crafts,
commercial enterprise, and earthen gifts as integral parts of living in
the Appalachian Mountains. She waxes of storytelling and
manual labor, rural religion and homemade meals. All too quickly, we
realize
we're viewing remnants of a past era when presented with a shoebox of
photographs and the revelation that we're looking at "scraps of
history."
The second poem, "Tracks," marks the generations that have
left footprints in mountain soil, from native Cherokee to bucolic field
stock. "Homecoming"
commemorates an annual day for honoring loved ones who have passed on.
It's a
celebration of life rather than a day of mourning--another chance to
grasp at
memories while time soldiers on.
"Mama's Love Offering" warms the heart with a reminder of
the selfless contributions of mothers. Ledford's matriarch sweats and
toils
with canning and preserving so that late into winter, she can "open a
jar of
love." "Homemade" delves into the protective magic woven into the seams
of
handmade clothing. It's yet another tribute to the labors of rural
mothers.
The title poem offers visions of vibrant ecology, imprinting
the final image of fall maple leaves. "Removal" takes on a more tragic
tone by
recounting the forced relocation of Native Americans to the west.
"Still
Waters," "Offering," and "Brasstown" relate the transformative powers
of flora
and fauna. "Appalachian Mountains" is an
observation of the rich cultural exposure mountain life can
offer.
The book takes another anguished turn with "Progress," a look
at the glaring reality of industrialization's destructive capacity.
Logging
threatens to reduce what's left of the scenic landscape to "Buried
Memories,"
the title of the next poem. Imagery that is reminiscent of the Great
Depression
gives the reader a more comprehensive view of backwoods reality. Following the melancholy tone, "Decoration
Day" chronicles a lost bout with disease for some unlucky
children.
"Snowstorm," "Bon Soir," "The Gift of Color," and "Spirits"
are elemental observations, and the same could probably be said of
"Love," for
isn't love a product of our most basic nature? It is especially so with
Ledford's version of love and her awestruck reverence of
wildlife.
Ledford once again captures the essence of rural existence
in Sacred Fire. She makes
observations that will endear to country dwellers and historical
preservationists. The lifestyle illustrated in this collection of poems
is
nearing extinction, and Ledford's lyrical commemoration allows the
reader to
revel in simplicity once more before it vanishes. Life in Appalachia
may have been hard, but it was also honorable and filled with love.