Michael H Ballard
Resiliency for Life
What does poetry mean to you?
I have found that poetry has the ability to transform many moments in my life. To uplift me, to hold me, to inspire and to move me to take action. It has helped me gain insights into other’s points of view. Points of view I’m not always comfortable with, yet through poetry I’ve gained and grown in my understanding of life.
Why does poetry matter to you?
Poetry has the ability to be a source of comfort for me for many situations in my life. Plus poetry has allowed me to connect with others in a way that often would never have happened.
Why Grace Noll Crowell?
I was very blessed to discover the work of Grace in a used book store in Belleville Ontario in the early 1990’s. I’d gone in to find some used books to share with some adults I was teaching at night school. Once I found some of the books, I was looking for the owner than asked if I liked poetry. Yes, most types was my response. Well we just got in two books from a poet I’ve never heard of, yet I find her most remarkable. So he showed my Songs of Courage and Songs for Hope and I was hooked. Then and now. Dale Carnegie called her “one of the most beloved poets in America.” I’d agree.
To research Grace is to be inspired. She was born in Inland, Iowa on October 31 1877.
She graduated with her B.A. from German-English College in 1901 and married Norman H. Crowell the same year. The couple had three children and moved to Dallas, Texas in 1919. She began writing poetry after the birth of her first child and published her first book, White Fire, in 1925. Her work won first prize from the Texas Poetry Society and marked the beginning of a prominent writing career. Crowell’s poems focused some say on homemaking, motherhood, family, holidays, and religious themes. Others would say Faith, Hope Courage and Triumph for living with more depth and courage.
Awards and Recognition for Grace Noll Crowell include
White Fire, which was published in 1925, received first prize from the Texas Poetry Society.
In 1935 she was appointed Poet Laureate of Texas a position she held for three years
She was awarded the Golden Scroll Medal of Honor as National Honor Poet in 1938
She was designated American Mother of the Year by the Golden Rule Foundation in 1938
American Woman, a biographical publication, selected her as one of the ten Outstanding American Women in 1938.
Baylor University awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in 1940.
Grace was selected as honorary chancellor of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies in 1965 USA
She died on March 31, 1969, in Dallas in her 88th year.
So with the world in such turmoil and going through a once in a life time issue I felt now more than ever we all deserved to have access to Grace’s work. To inspire us, uplift us to help us all nurture our faith, hope and courage.
I’ve described her work as very approachable, inspiring and uplifting.
I trust you’ll enjoy her work as much as I do. Get a copy of one of her most beautiful works: The Crystal Fountain: A Volume of Poems.
Michael Ballard
Resiliency for Life
Toronto Canada
