Bill Griffin
Elkin, North Carolina, USA
In GriffinPoetry I showcase vivid poetic imagery from established as well as emerging poets. You’ve read a line that reaches out and grabs you by the throat — so vivid, so novel, sensual, emotionally imperative — so satisfying you find yourself saying, Damn, I wish I’d written that!
If you have an all time favorite line or two, share them with us in a comment.
I try to frame the poetry with my photography, especially outdoor and nature themes and wild flowers. Poetry, like the naturalist method, requires close observation and thoughtful interpolation. I often introduce the poems and photos with a brief essay. Many of these are guided by one of my favorite quotations: In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught. (Baba Dioum, Senegalese environmentalist)
I am a family doctor and geriatrician in rural North Carolina [retired after 39+years in practice as of September, 2020]. Outside of work I’ve wrangled grandchildren, sung in several choral groups large and small, and pastored a tiny congregation of Community of Christ. I’ve served on the Board of the NC Poetry Society as Treasurer for so many years that people actually assume I know what I’m doing.
My poems have appeared in many regional and national journals, including Southern Poetry Review, Tar River Poetry, POEM, NC Literary Review, and Pembroke Magazine. In 2009 I received the North Carolina Poetry Society’s Poet Laureate Award, judged by Kathryn Stripling Byer.
In 2012 I had the most fun it is possible to have on planet earth when I spent a week at the NC Zoological Park in Asheboro as Poet in Residence for the Poetry of Conservation project. I wandered the park all day, shared workshops and demos with visitors, wrote a poem to be featured at the park, and scouted sites for installations of nature and ecology themed poetry, many of them still visible in the Park today. Check out photos and inspirations at the accompanying page ZOOETRY There are also links to the posts I created each day as part of the project.
Several of my poems have been set to music and performed as choral works. In 2010 the suite The Wanderer’s Carols, my lyrics, music by Mark Daniel Merritt, premiered at Biltmore House in Asheville NC for Christmas, performed by the select Surry County ensemble VOCE. In 2018 Wilderness Advent (Pisgah Stranger) was composed, arranged, and directed by David McCollum with the Elkin Community Chorus.
I have had several poetry collections published over the years. You can see the covers, read comments, and share sample poems at the accompanying page BOOKS Contact me if you would like to purchase a book.
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This tree presides over the meadow near Bluffs Lodge at Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have photographed it dozens of times in all seasons over the past 20 years or more, always with my camera set on the same concrete trail marker that was planted there by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930’s. I conclude every post with a random image from that collection. Only this shot includes another human being, my hiking partner and best friend Linda.
V E R S E ❦ I M A G E 
Hello! I am a poet, author and love to read others poetry!
I have a few poems I would like to share but just saw this today, on Facebook. When I have more time, I’ll send something. Just published two books, one novel, late last year, ‘Mysteerie Manor’, a paranormal mystery thriller and a children’s beautiful pictorial storybook, ‘The Tumbleweed Family’ that was just released a few days ago. Yesterday I sent in a submission to publish Mysteerie Manor II. It should be out by the end of May, I am hoping. I’m self published with Createspace, xlibris and Iuniverse now with the last one. I am currently working on a collaboration of Poetry, and Art with 8 artists. I should have it finished by next month sometime and then publish. Its full of beautiful Poetry and Art, as in this beautiful website blog you have created. Thank you for the pleasure of reading some of the beautiful works here. I will be sending something soon to share with you.
http://www.SharonHays.com
Sharon, thanks again for the comment. If you’d like me to consider featuring a poem on GriffinPoetry, please send 5 or 6 poems (preferably already published, since posting them on this blog makes them “previously published” for the purpose of future journal submissions). Also send me information about yourself, not necessarily the usual standard bio but something that really lets me know about you.
I am looking for vivid and evocative poetic imagery.
Thanks!
I am a 7th cousin of James Larkin Pearson. Many years ago, my mother, Betty Shea and I began corresponding with him. Although, he was in his 90’s, he handtyped long letters to both she and I, revealing his amazment and astonishment at life outside his home. We visited him on a couple of occasions, one being the celebration of his 100th birthday. I have several of his books(signed) and always cherished my memories of him. I’m glad to see someone interested in his quaint yet brilliant works! Many times, I have brought out his books and read verse after verse to my 4 kids. My mother has passed away and I do not know if her cousin, Stokes Pearson(Dean of Wilkes Community College) is still living. By the way, my mother grew up in Elkin, and we still have family there. I was named after Ronda, NC.
Ronda, this is simply amazing! Thanks for bringing our second NC Poet Laureate even more to life for us. Tell your family that at our last Board meeting of the NC Poetry Society (at Weymouth Center in Southern Pines) I read a poem for the group from Larkin’s book. And you may already know this, but every year the Poetry Council of NC sponsors the James Larkin Pearson poetry contest (http://poetrycouncilofnc.wordpress.com/). If you ever pass through Elkin, please let me know so we can say, “Hey!”
Hi Bill, We met at Weymouth center in September, and I told you how happy I was to find your bestiary and little mouse poems. I don’t have anything to say on your site yet, but I’d love to be in touch with you. The Little Mouse poems are wonderful, and hats off to the incredible discipline of the form you demanded of each one. And the Bestiary, oh my word! The only thing wrong with it is that Linda’s gorgeous graphics are all only in black and white.
Warm regards,
Judith
Thanks, Judith! As you’ve noticed, I’ve taken a respite from the blog since this summer. I hope to start adding new features and featured poems soon. Thanks for your kind comments — I’ll pass the word along to Linda. BILL
Bill, I am very much enjoying roving through your blog. Keep up the good work! P M F Johnson
Bill, I ran across one of your poems at the NC Zoo. I would very much like to use it in my classroom and feature it on a blog I have for other English teachers, if you would allow it. I do not have all the words for it, but I do have the title and the last line: “Deer” ‘…all day long and haven’t even seen me once.’
If you will allow me to use it, could you give me the entire poem? I’ll be glad to put a link back to this site (or another one if you prefer). Thank you.
Hi Mark — I’m just tickled that you saw “Deer” at the Zoo. I’ll be glad to send you the full text. I’m sending an email to your school address to make sure we connect.
I spent a week as Poet-in-Residence at the Zoo in July, 2012. My daily journal from that awesome experience is on this blog under “Poetry of Conservation.” Check it out!
[…] Bill Griffin from Snake Den Ridge —a beastiary March Street Press […]
Hi Bill – In doing a little research on poet Patty Hooper (new to me) and google took me in hand, lead me to stumble across your blog. What apleasure ! I am a visual artist, often turn to poetry for inspiration, imagery and direction – and during Covid I’ve been making very simple “audio/visual” slideshows, text and imagery, which I post on YouTube, FB and IG. Anyway, what a treat experiencing your creative process. Thank you !
Lucinda, thank you for your encouragement. I want to check out your work as well. —B
I’m glad I found you!
Thanks! Your blog is wonderful! The world needs more science fiction poetry btw — here’s an EARTH DAY post where I briefly revert to my former life writing SF: https://griffinpoetry.com/2021/04/30/earth-day-coevolution/
And I may be vegetarian but I would die without cheese. —B