Hold April

by Jesse Stuart

Genres: Poetry

114 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Jesse Hilton Stuart was an American writer known for writing short stories, poetry, and novels about Southern Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of Northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954. He died at Jo-Lin nursing home in Ironton, Ohio, which is near his boyhood home.

Reviews

[Nelda]

The poetry here is traditional with the traditional rhyme schemes (AB CD or A B A B or...) and traditional down-home ideas: Stuart discusses the natural world, love and death, nostalgia, old houses and homesteads, and middle-aged and elderly love. Old houses deteriorate as does nature; however, "Hold April" and "Their Eyes Have Seen" strike a more hopeful note. "The Ballad of the Bride" showcases a mother's love and advice as she converses with her willful son, who will marry the city girl come what may! If you like the traditional countrified world, you will love these poems. I did!