Disturbing the Dust

Peggy Seely's poetry demands our attention, never more so than in her powerful book, Disturbing the Dust, where she takes us on a journey of a life fully lived. Her deep sense of caring is displayed in Parkland; she smells the "spilled blood" of gunned-down students, rendering assurance that she will "stand with students who will stand free..." In her poem, "There Came a Day," she looks at the sexism that has been part of the American culture for far too long, defining women as less than they are. "Enough, enough" Peggy says in a voice dripping with outrage at the promise of workplace advancement for special favors. Anger in some poems, yes; also rebellion, finally, catharsis. If poetry were a taxi, I'd ride with Peggy Seely every time.

Leonard Greco, journalist & author