Daddy Said by Teresa Blackmon

“Teresa Blackmon’s poems come out of her poet’s heart.  Daddy Said brims out of her family and her hometown, spilling nostalgia and memory into a poetry of accuracy and authenticity.  Daddy Said is a gem, a rare combination of lyrics and love.”

–Shelby Stephenson, poet laureate of North Carolina from 2015-2018, is the author of many volumes of poetry, including Slavery and Freedom on Paul’s Hill.

“This heartfelt collection vividly conjures images of southern childhood, complicated family ties, adult realities, and the beauty and heartache of everyday living.  There are poems for every reader, from gut punches like “The Patient” and “Last Request” to windows on the past like “Barning Tobacco” and “Saturdays in Raleigh.”  I am so glad this collection and this poet are now being shared with the world.”

–Robin Miura, Senior Editor, Blair Publishing

“In her debut collection, Teresa Blackmon curates a Carolina compendium of immense depth and detail.  In “Uncles” she honors her kin lyrically and profoundly: “We grow older and see ourselves/turning into them like leaves change in their time…”  I found her poem “Last Request” highly imaginative and intriguing in its moving portrayal of a parent’s death.

–Jon Obermeyer, author of more than twenty book, essays, memoirs, and collections of poetry.  He holds an MFA from UNC-Greensboro.

“Teresa Blackmon’s southern voice infuses her poetry with the tang of bar-b-q and the saltiness of a Carolina beach.  Her narrative ranges from childhood innocence to the questions an adult asks upon the death of a parent whose love might have been tough to determine.”

–Dawn Reno Langley, author of The Mourning Parade, as well as dozens of other novels, children’s books, and nonfiction.