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Point in case ...
Did you ever read a poem and think, "This is a great poem; I wish I could meet the poet who wrote this poem and Tell them how great I think this poem is?"
Recently, I felt thast way, and I did call.
The poem was ( The Last Ride, ) from a small chapbook, by Beulah Fenderson Smith, ( Pawprints On My Heart, ) "Poems about Dogs," printed by Star Press, of Kennebunk Maine.
The book was a thin perfect bound paper back.
"Paw prints on my heart." I thought as I picked it up from the Ogunquit Libary shelf, " I believe I've read this one, once or twice before?" but I felt I'd like re-reading it again.
So I borrowed the book and took it home.
When I read the book again, one poem stood out to me from the rest, ( The Last Ride, ) ... It cut me.
"Wow!" I thought, as I rubbed the corners of my eyes, "this poem is heavy." " I wish I could tell the poet that."
I looked at the printing date on the book, (1972) .
"Naw?" I thought "Any Poet that mature in 1972, would be impossible to find today?" "They could not still be in the area?" But, I'm not one to take no for an answer, even from myself.
So before I returned the book to the Ogunquit Library, I wrote down the author's name and the Printing information, Star Press, Kennebunk, Maine. When I returned the book to the Library, I looked around for a phone directory, I didn't see one handy so, I just thought that I'd Google up the Information when I returned home, "Star Press Kennebunk."
When I got home I realized I was the proud possessor of a Telephone Directory of my very own.
So I looked it up , "Star Press" ... no go!
"No?" I thought, "It was printed 30 odd years ago, (1972 ); She would not be in the book?"
But, as said, I don't like taking no for an answer, even from myself.
So, I looked it up and "Oh my Gosh!" there was her name, Bualah F. Smith.
So I dialed the number, it rang, and she answered.
"Hello?" she said.
" Hello," I answered, "Is this Beulah Smith who wrote the poetry book, "Dog Paw prints across my heart ?"... I asked nervously miss quoting the book's title.
"Paw Prints on My Heart," she corrected, "Yes. I am."
"This is K. Peddlar Bridges and I would like to do an article on you and your book," I told her.
She asked me who I had written for and I gave her several names of where I had been published before, including our local Journal Tribune.
Yes:?" she said.
"I thought your book was wonderful,' I said.
She thanked me.
"I thought the poem about the old dog going to the Vet was the best one,' ... 'That is a Great poem," I added.
She recited the last line.
" I didn't think I would find you?', I told her, "I felt anyone that mature, that long ago, would have to be very old now?"
"I am very old,' she said, ' I'm 87."
We talked about dogs and she told me she still has three and she has written several other books. I read her part of my "Old Blue Car," poem.
"Please stop," she said, "you're making me cry."
"I'm sorry,' I said, 'but I've been told this poem is good, but yours is much better, I'm glad I found it." "Thank you."
What can I do for you?" she asked.
"I would like your permission to write an article about you and your book and to print your poem in my column?" I asked.
"You have my permission," she said.
"Thank you," I said and we bid ado.
Here I would like to paraphrase, the writer Robert Luis Stevenson in his preface to his essay on Francois Villion, (The 15th Century French bandit Poet ), "It is good that every so many years one Poet writes of another Poet to bring them forward, so they will not be forgot."
1972 - 2006 ... Beulah Fenderson Smith is a Maine Poet who we have not forgotten. Her books can be found in local Libraries and about. She lives in Wells Maine, still has three dogs, and her poetry has left "Paw Prints on my Heart."
Below is her poem ..............
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