Local Poet Explains 'WHY'

By Katie Deem
West Virginia author Lisa M. Sheldon promoted her collection of poetry, “Mommy, WHY?” on Appalachian Heritage Day. Lisa previously resided in Swansboro, North Carolina, but found herself wanting out of the urban locality. She and her family wanted a more rustic life. They subsequently settled in Calhoun County, West Virginia. Sheldon at present attends West Virginia University at Parkersburg, and is working on her Regents Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in psychology.

“Mommy, WHY?” is her first published work, though she has had poems published in separate works in North Carolina and West Virginia.

In “Mommy, WHY?” Sheldon explains to children why things in nature exist. She explains how insects, butterflies and flowers work together naturally for a purpose. She combines elements of faith and the presence of God within her poetry, as well. The collection contains illustrations by Julie Snider, a friend of Sheldon’s, who is also from West Virginia. The illustrations show the likeness of an insect, a hummingbird drinking from a flower, a butterfly resting on a petal – all meant to show the reader the beauty and importance of nature.

Her children and their inquisitiveness inspired this collection of poetry. She expresses that “no better time is shared than when you curl up with a book and your child.” She revels in the familial and rural qualities of Appalachian culture, the “concentration on the natural world” and love for children. She says, “Things are more real here.” She values the “faith in God” found here in West Virginia. Her poetry conveys these Appalachian values.

Sheldon’s collection of poetry is available for $6 a copy. She can be contacted at cgwgtoday@yahoo.com.