Bøger af Mary Weston Fordham

Magnolia Leaves (1897) is a collection of poems by Mary Weston Fordham. Published toward the end of her life, Fordham's only collection appeared in print with an introduction by Booker T. Washington, who saw in its author an undeniable gift which could prove "[t]he Negro's right to be considered worthy of recognition in the field of poetic effort." Meditating on such themes as morality, labor, maternity, liberty, and faith, Mary Weston Fordham displays not only a mastery of poetic form, but a hard-earned wisdom and talent for observing life in all its forms. "With hands all reddened and sore, / With back and shoulders low bent, / She stands all day, and part of the night / Till her strength is well-nigh spent." In "The Washerwoman," Fordham depicts a woman whose life on earth revolves around labor, for whom life after death means the promise of hard-earned rest, to "be found on the other shore." While many, if not all, of Fordham's poems revolve around Christian imagery and themes, some, including "Chicago Exposition Ode," "Stars and Stripes," and "Alaska," reflect on the promise of freedom and liberty in the aftermath of the Civil War. Her poems strive to depict the diversity of nineteenth century America, such as in "Atlanta Exposition Ode," which celebrates the end of war and the coming together of former slaves, Union soldiers, and Confederate forces alike. "Song to Erin" and "Highland Mary" depict the immigrant experience, while "The Cherokee" mourns the murder and displacement of America's indigenous peoples. In sixty-six poems, Mary Weston Fordham distils the experience of a lifetime and the wisdom of one who has experienced loss and found the strength to move forward. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Mary Weston Fordham's Magnolia Leaves is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Meget lidt vides om den afro-amerikanske digter Mary Weston Fordham. Hun stammede fra en forholdvis velstående fri sort familie (Den slags fandtes altså på det tidspunkt!) Der findes ingen billeder af hende og med nogen usikkerhed kan det siges at hun levede fra 1843 til 1905. Dog vides det endvidere, at hun på forbilledlig vis opretholdt sin egen skole gennem hele den nordamerikanske borgerkrig. Efter krigen lod hun sig ansætte som lærer hos American Missionary Association. Hun kæmpede endvidere bravt for at genoprette Saxon School i Charleston, South Carolina.Af hendes mangfoldige digte udkom kun en enkelt samling i 1897, Magnolia Leaves, som blev udgivet af South Carolina Press med forord af Booker T. Washington.Hun udgives hermed for første gang på dansk. Hendes digte er præget af det lyrisk/historiske samt død og elendig blandt børn og unge, men kærligheden har også en plads.Hun døde i Charleston og ligger begravet på Brotherly Cemetery, men det vides ikke nøjagtigt hvor.Hun fortjener, at kendskabet til hende udbredes.