Hill Daughter
Hill Daughter: New and Selected Poems
Louise McNeill
Edited and with an Introduction by Maggie Anderson
Copyright Date: 1991
Published by: University of Pittsburgh Press
https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx
Pages: 168
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7zw9nx
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Book Info
Hill Daughter
Book Description:

Introduction by Maggie AndersonMusically complex and intellectually sophisticated, Louise McNeill's imagery and rhythms have their deepest sources in the West Virginia mountains where she was born in 1911 on a farm that has been in her family for nine generations. These are rooted poems, passionately concerned with stewardship of the land and with the various destructions of land and people that often come masked as "progress."In colloquial, rural, and sometimes macabre imagery, Louise McNeill documents the effects of the change from a farm to an industrial economy on the West Virginia mountain people. She writes of the earliest white settlements on the western side of the Alleghenies and of the people who remained there through the coming of the roads, the timber and coal industries, and the several wars of this century.The reappearance of Louise McNeill's long out-of-print poems will be cause for celebration for readers familiar with her work. Those reading it for the first time will discover musical, serious, idiosyncratic, and startling poems that define the Appalachian experience.

eISBN: 978-0-8229-8069-8
Subjects: Language & Literature
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  1. Front Matter
    Front Matter (pp. i-viii)
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.1
  2. Table of Contents
    Table of Contents (pp. ix-xii)
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.2
  3. Introduction
    Introduction (pp. xiii-xxvi)
    Maggie Anderson
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.3

    Louise NcNeill was the first poet I heard give a poetry reading. In 1964, I was sixteen years old and McNeill came to read at the junior college in Keyser, West Virginia, where I lived. I had read very little poetry and, except for the few poems by Emily Dickinson in my school anthology, I had read no poems by women. I knew nothing about the literature of my region and so, although I had decided by that time that I wanted to be a poet, it would never have occurred to me to write about my place, about West...

  4. Editor’s Note
    Editor’s Note (pp. xxvii-xxviii)
    M.A.
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.4
  5. Hill Daughter
    • Memoria
      Memoria (pp. 3-3)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.5
    • Warning
      Warning (pp. 4-4)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.6
    • Blizzard
      Blizzard (pp. 5-5)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.7
    • Snow Angels
      Snow Angels (pp. 6-7)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.8
    • American Boating Song (1939)
      American Boating Song (1939) (pp. 8-8)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.9
    • Mayapple Hill
      Mayapple Hill (pp. 9-9)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.10
    • Poet
      Poet (pp. 10-10)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.11
    • The Dream
      The Dream (pp. 11-11)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.12
    • Lullaby
      Lullaby (pp. 12-12)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.13
    • Aubade to Fear (Heavy with Child)
      Aubade to Fear (Heavy with Child) (pp. 13-13)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.14
    • Second Sight (My Son’s First Springtime)
      Second Sight (My Son’s First Springtime) (pp. 14-14)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.15
    • Hill Daughter
      Hill Daughter (pp. 15-16)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.16
  6. Wire Brier
    • Fox and Geese
      Fox and Geese (pp. 19-19)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.17
    • Hill Song
      Hill Song (pp. 20-20)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.18
    • Faldang
      Faldang (pp. 21-21)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.19
    • Fiddler (1976)
      Fiddler (1976) (pp. 22-23)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.20
    • Mountain Corn Song
      Mountain Corn Song (pp. 24-24)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.21
    • Moonshiner
      Moonshiner (pp. 25-25)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.22
    • Wire Brier
      Wire Brier (pp. 26-26)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.23
    • Involved (The Spider)
      Involved (The Spider) (pp. 27-27)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.24
    • Overheard on a Bus (Woman with a Cleft Palate)
      Overheard on a Bus (Woman with a Cleft Palate) (pp. 28-28)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.25
    • Chestnut Orchard
      Chestnut Orchard (pp. 29-29)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.26
    • First Flight
      First Flight (pp. 30-30)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.27
    • Lost in Orbit
      Lost in Orbit (pp. 31-31)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.28
    • How to Unbewitch a Backtracking Hound
      How to Unbewitch a Backtracking Hound (pp. 32-32)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.29
    • Ballad of Joe Bittner
      Ballad of Joe Bittner (pp. 33-33)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.30
    • Stories at Evening (A Suburban Mother Tells Stories to Her Son)
      Stories at Evening (A Suburban Mother Tells Stories to Her Son) (pp. 34-34)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.31
    • Ballad of Miss Sally
      Ballad of Miss Sally (pp. 35-36)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.32
    • Ballad of the Rest Home
      Ballad of the Rest Home (pp. 37-37)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.33
    • West Virginia
      West Virginia (pp. 38-38)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.34
    • Garden Moment
      Garden Moment (pp. 39-39)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.35
    • Coal Fern
      Coal Fern (pp. 40-40)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.36
    • Ballad of New River
      Ballad of New River (pp. 41-42)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.37
  7. Gauley Mountain
    • Arrow Grasses by Greenbrier River
      Arrow Grasses by Greenbrier River (pp. 45-45)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.38
    • Gabriel MacElmain, Pioneer
      Gabriel MacElmain, Pioneer (pp. 46-46)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.39
    • The Clearing
      The Clearing (pp. 47-47)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.40
    • The Flame
      The Flame (pp. 48-48)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.41
    • Cornelius Verner
      Cornelius Verner (pp. 49-49)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.42
    • Katchie Verner’s Harvest
      Katchie Verner’s Harvest (pp. 50-50)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.43
    • Oil Field
      Oil Field (pp. 51-51)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.44
    • Lydia Verner
      Lydia Verner (pp. 52-52)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.45
    • The Son
      The Son (pp. 53-53)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.46
    • Pioneer Lullaby
      Pioneer Lullaby (pp. 54-54)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.47
    • Granny Saunders
      Granny Saunders (pp. 55-55)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.48
    • Granny’s Story
      Granny’s Story (pp. 56-56)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.49
    • Martha MacElmain
      Martha MacElmain (pp. 57-57)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.50
    • Jane Renick MacElmain (1)
      Jane Renick MacElmain (1) (pp. 58-58)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.51
    • Jane Renick MacElmain (2)
      Jane Renick MacElmain (2) (pp. 59-59)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.52
    • Donna MacElmain
      Donna MacElmain (pp. 60-60)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.53
    • Susan Q’Kane
      Susan Q’Kane (pp. 61-61)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.54
    • Nora O’Kane
      Nora O’Kane (pp. 62-62)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.55
    • Tillie Sage (1)
      Tillie Sage (1) (pp. 63-63)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.56
    • Tillie Sage (2)
      Tillie Sage (2) (pp. 64-64)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.57
    • Tillie Sage (3)
      Tillie Sage (3) (pp. 65-65)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.58
    • Jed Kane
      Jed Kane (pp. 66-66)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.59
    • Sol Brady
      Sol Brady (pp. 67-67)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.60
    • The Turnpike
      The Turnpike (pp. 68-68)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.61
    • Traveler and Old Sowel
      Traveler and Old Sowel (pp. 69-69)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.62
    • Burying Field
      Burying Field (pp. 70-70)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.63
    • The River
      The River (pp. 71-72)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.64
  8. The Horsemen
    • Corner Tree
      Corner Tree (pp. 75-76)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.65
    • The Autumn Drives (Early 1800s)
      The Autumn Drives (Early 1800s) (pp. 77-78)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.66
    • The Horsemen
      The Horsemen (pp. 79-80)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.67
    • Timber Boom
      Timber Boom (pp. 81-81)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.68
    • Log Drive
      Log Drive (pp. 82-82)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.69
    • Saturday Night (1890–1910)
      Saturday Night (1890–1910) (pp. 83-83)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.70
    • First Train (1895)
      First Train (1895) (pp. 84-84)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.71
    • The Spark
      The Spark (pp. 85-85)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.72
    • Deserted Lumber Yard
      Deserted Lumber Yard (pp. 86-86)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.73
    • Reforestation
      Reforestation (pp. 87-87)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.74
    • Saturday Night (1930s)
      Saturday Night (1930s) (pp. 88-88)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.75
    • Stoic (Circa 1907)
      Stoic (Circa 1907) (pp. 89-89)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.76
    • The Company (Coal Miner)
      The Company (Coal Miner) (pp. 90-90)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.77
    • Best House They Was Ever In (Retired Coal Operator)
      Best House They Was Ever In (Retired Coal Operator) (pp. 91-92)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.78
    • Monongah (December 6, 1907, Marion County, West Virginia, on the Monongahela River)
      Monongah (December 6, 1907, Marion County, West Virginia, on the Monongahela River) (pp. 93-93)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.79
    • Overheard on a Bus (Miner’s Wife)
      Overheard on a Bus (Miner’s Wife) (pp. 94-94)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.80
    • Winter Day (Coal Country)
      Winter Day (Coal Country) (pp. 95-95)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.81
    • The Hard Road
      The Hard Road (pp. 96-96)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.82
    • The Roads
      The Roads (pp. 97-97)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.83
    • The Great Depression
      The Great Depression (pp. 98-98)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.84
    • Depression Wind (Winter 1930)
      Depression Wind (Winter 1930) (pp. 99-99)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.85
    • Pasture Line Fence
      Pasture Line Fence (pp. 100-100)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.86
    • Threnody for Old Orchards
      Threnody for Old Orchards (pp. 101-101)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.87
    • The Grave Creek Inscribed Stone
      The Grave Creek Inscribed Stone (pp. 102-102)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.88
    • The Runaway Team (Written a Few Days After John Glenn’s Space Flight)
      The Runaway Team (Written a Few Days After John Glenn’s Space Flight) (pp. 103-106)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.89
  9. Time Is Our House
    • Time Is Our House
      Time Is Our House (pp. 109-109)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.90
    • Cassandra
      Cassandra (pp. 110-110)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.91
    • The New Corbies
      The New Corbies (pp. 111-111)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.92
    • After the Blast
      After the Blast (pp. 112-112)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.93
    • Potherbs (Of the Edible Wild Plants My Granny Taught Me)
      Potherbs (Of the Edible Wild Plants My Granny Taught Me) (pp. 113-113)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.94
    • Of Fitness to Survive
      Of Fitness to Survive (pp. 114-114)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.95
    • Life-force
      Life-force (pp. 115-115)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.96
    • The Cave
      The Cave (pp. 116-116)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.97
    • “Light”
      “Light” (pp. 117-117)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.98
    • When the Scientists Told Me of the Expanding Universe
      When the Scientists Told Me of the Expanding Universe (pp. 118-118)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.99
    • To the Boys in Freshman History (Thermopylae, 480 B.C.)
      To the Boys in Freshman History (Thermopylae, 480 B.C.) (pp. 119-120)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.100
    • The Hounds
      The Hounds (pp. 121-121)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.101
    • Epitaph in the Imperative Mode
      Epitaph in the Imperative Mode (pp. 122-122)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.102
    • The Passage of Time
      The Passage of Time (pp. 123-123)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.103
    • The Verb
      The Verb (pp. 124-124)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.104
    • Wife
      Wife (pp. 125-125)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.105
    • Backward Flight
      Backward Flight (pp. 126-126)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.106
    • Over the Mountain
      Over the Mountain (pp. 127-130)
      https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.107
  10. Author’s Notes
    Author’s Notes (pp. 133-136)
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.108
  11. Bibliography
    Bibliography (pp. 137-140)
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7zw9nx.109