Author Sam Williams holds a copy of his book. Christmas Moon

Alleghany County resident authors book of Christmas-themed poetry and stories

A native of Loudon County, Tenn., current Alleghany resident Sam Williams has recently had a book of Christmas poetry published. A retired teacher who taught writing, English and art for 31 years, Williams moved to the area in 2000.

In 1993, Williams wrote the Christmas-themed poem, "Tree Dance," and continued to write a poem each year for the next 13 years. Last Christmas, Williams received a book from a friend and he was so impressed with the way the material was presented, he contacted the North Carolina-based publishing company, Rosenberry Books, Etc.

Williams said, "They asked to see some things, so I sent things over and they were interested in more and they said, ‘Do you have more Christmas things?' By in large, what they were saying was poetry doesn't sell...but Christmas books do. I sent everything I had that was Christmas (themed) and it ended up in (the book)."

When asked if he had favorites among his recently published poetry, he smiled and simply said, "They're all pretty much favorites." He then explained that each of his poems have a story behind them.

For example, "A Christmas Feather: Lost and Found" has an extra Alleghany connection in that it was written for Williams' friend, Ennice resident Mary Jane Ciraco. The poem tells a story of a red feather that flew from a hat that was later returned.

At the end of the poem, written in 2005, it reads, "Thanks to the giver of the hat and for friend in memoriam Dominick Ciraco (1930-2003), who found the red feather."

Williams went on to say that "The Lamb's Quarters" is a tale "of how the house came to be," he said of his local home; "December Birches" was inspired by a visit to the Parkway; "A Christmas Walk" was written after a walk around a lake in the Blowing Rock area; and "A Sterling Christmas Wish" was written in honor of his 25th year of teaching.

Williams stated a group of fifth and sixth graders he taught during his first teaching assignment, which was at Blowing Rock Elementary School in Clinton, Tenn., served as an influence on his writing. Others that he noted to serve as influences on his work include family, friends, fellow teachers, and "inspirational friends" fellow teacher and children's book author Libba Gray Moore, and writer and journalist, Dorothy Fritz.

Speaking of the 16 poems within the pages of "By This Christmas Moon," Williams commented, "These are pretty down-to-earth homey poems. They're not far-fetched, something you have to do a lot of thinking about."

Williams then compared his work to the present United States' poet laureate, Donald Hall. He described Hall's poetry as "sort of matter- of-fact. You can sit and think about what he's done forever, as you can with these. But, it comes out the way it is. It's not a lot of things like maybe we had to read in school with hidden meanings. These may have, but you know, that's up to the reader."

 

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