Pine Cones and Pearls: A Collection of Poems and Essays

By Kallie Lynn Rice

Just as pine cones and pearls are a contrast of textures, so is this book, a contrast of subjects and thoughts presented in a variety of styles. Some people will connect with the material and others may not.

I hope as you read this book, you will connect with something in a poem or essay. In our hearts, we each have a story to tell and I encourage you as I was encouraged, to share that story, that poem or those thoughts in some way with another person just as I have done in Pine Cones and Pearls.

Over the years I have dabbled in writing poetry and short stories. Most of them had been placed in a book, tucked away in a closet and forgotten. This book is the result of cleaning out the closet. These writings are a combination of old and new material that depict experiences occurring in my life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 15, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440105852

Kallie Lynn Rice

Written under the pen name, Kalli Lynn Rice, in honor of her mother Callie Rice Prickett, whose formal education was limited but whose wisdom far exceeded any classroom, Grace Prickett Luneau’s first book Pine Cones and Pearls is a collection of poems and essays that express her feelings about life and “country ways.” Born and reared on a farm in Madison, Georgia, her writings reflect the values learned from these experiences. The author currently lives in Alexandria, Louisiana and is employed as an Infection Prevention nurse manager. [e-mail]

Book preview

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to a special person whose gentle insistence

convinced me that other people might read my

writings; thus the book Pine Cones and Pearls

Introduction to Pine Cones and Pearls

Pine Cones and Pearls was a title long before there was a book. The title came to be one day as I was looking at a large pine cone that had fallen in my front yard. There is something so beautiful about pine cones. As I examined the scales of the cone I realized they are textured on the outside but become smoother at the point they join the stem. Pearls on the other hand are smooth on the outside but have to undergo an extensive inward process before they develop their beautiful outward appearance. Just as pine cones and pearls are a contrast of textures, so is this book; a contrast of subjects and thoughts presented in a variety of styles. Some people will connect with the material and others may not.

Over the years I have dabbled in writing poetry and short stories. Most of them had been placed in a book, tucked away in a closet and forgotten. This book is the result of cleaning out the closet. These writings are a combination of old and new material that depict experiences that have occurred in my life.

I hope as you read this book, you will connect with something in a poem or essay. In our hearts we each have a story to tell and I encourage you, as I was encouraged, to share that story, that poem or those thoughts in some way with another person.

A project that I thought would take a month or two has extended into a year. This has been a journey in introspection and I have learned a lot about myself. I’m sure there will other books as a result of this one. If you borrowed this book from someone or bought one for yourself, thank you so much for allowing me to share some of my thoughts with you through: Pine Cones and Pearls, a collection of poems and essays

Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction to Pine Cones and Pearls

1. In the Garden

2. Return to the Garden

3. Beach Talk

4. Meeting God in the Attic

5. Ode to a Peaceful Soul

6. My Place, My Space

7. Cry of the Heart

8. The Broken Pot

9. A Young Girl’s Lament

10. A Letter to Mama

11. The Centurion Cypress

12. Intangible Gifts

13. The Humble Man

14. Things I Like that Don’t Come in a Can

15. On a Limb that Swings

16. The Magic Mailbox

17. Ode to the Sea

18. Fireflies and Fantasies

19. Another Place, Another Space

20. A Town too Pretty to Burn

21. A Love Affair Remembered

22. I’ve Traveled This Road Before

23. Night Cry

24. If

25. Salute to a Gentle Man

26. Country Essays

27. Hope

28. Bits and Pieces

IN THE GARDEN

I walk in the garden

The sun is getting low

My heart is heavy

My steps are slow

I notice a tree blown down by the wind

In my heart I wonder if this too will be my end.

Tossed to and fro, unable to stand

I can’t believe this is really Your plan.

There are things I want to do

I know in my heart You want them too.

Then why this walk of pain?

I ask what is there to gain?

I feel alone on this stony path

I want to feel Your love, not Your wrath

Is this the way life must continue to be

You know my heart, hear my plea

I want to feel the joy anew

That only comes from You.

I want to laugh and sing again

And be at peace within

I want the doubts to disappear

So I can hear your message clear

I ask your help to make it so

Please hold my hand and don’t