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Statesville woman publishes book of poetry
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Published: November 26, 2009
Priscilla McGee said her life took a sharp turn in the right direction 11 years ago. It was then, McGee said, she became a born-again Christian.
"Before that, I did everything differently," she said. "And I got into a lot of trouble. But being born again changed the way I handled new situations and how I thought about things and how I looked at life."
Included in that new vision and those reshaped sensibilities was a re-emergence in McGee's lifelong love of writing poetry.
But after her religious epiphany, McGee's creative writing took on a new element.
"I began writing inspirationally," she said.
After some fits and starts, McGee realized she was writing poetry on a regular basis — that it had become a part of her day. And the poems began to pile up.
"And the next thing you know I said, 'That's a book,' " she explained.
That book took the title, "God's Poetic Treasures: A Poetic Journey Through the Scriptures," which McGee self-published.
Each of the more than 100 poems is accompanied by a small passage from the Bible.
McGee explained there is a formula for that.
"I get a topic I want to write about, then I find the scripture I think will fit the poem and then the scripture helps inspire me to write or to finish the poem," she said.
McGee has lived in Statesville several times and most recently moved back to the city three weeks ago.
She said one her favorite poems is one called "Don't Be Moved," which McGee says is kind of a mandate to hold your ground and keep the faith during times of difficulty.
"The message is to not let trials and tribulations and the necessities of life move you away from God and from doing his will," she said.
Another poem, "Surrender," enumerates some concessions a person must make in order to fully make a connection with the Almighty.
"We must surrender our hands to Jesus/If we want to touch the sky," the poems reads in part. It continues, "We must surrender our hearts to Jesus/If we want to love the words."
In the book's introduction, McGee asks readers to study the words of the poems and their accompanying passages and ponder the deeper meaning.
"Once you've read and meditated on the scriptures and poems," she writes, "I pray God's wisdom and understanding will come into your heart."
McGee will have at least two book signings, both in January. On Jan. 9, she will hold an event at Borders Bookstore at the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, and on Jan. 16, she will visit the Iredell County Public Library.
McGee is currently at work on "God's Poetic Treasures Volume II."
For more information about the book, call McGee at (704) 873-6181.
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