Honeysuckle Memories
Poetry Collection
by Raoul White
Honeysuckle Memories
Raoul White is a resident of Wellstar Paulding Nursing Center. The former nutrition counselor has been bedridden for close to six years at the Paulding facility. White has discovered that the true meanings in life are often elusive when they are separated from the details that make life worth living. At one time this was the daily struggle of the mind that the rheumatism patient underwent, but ironically, he has found his meaning by putting his details onto paper as poetry. His words have a way of reaching out to people whom he does not know.
Raoul's work has been read on Georgia Public Radio and he now has a book of poetry titled "Honeysuckle Memories," published by Dolphins and Orchids and printed by Rainbow Printing. The chapbook, has a cover picturing one of Raoul's original paintings from 1981. The books are found at Wellstar Paulding Hospital also, some have been sent to public libraries and high schools throughout the county.
"Writing is the most frustrating thing in the world," says White. "But I will accomplish something from this position, somehow." Raoul's verses dip into different styles and tones. "Honeysuckle Memories" has succeeded in capturing regional color. It is marinated in numerous rhyme schemes and Southern humor, and many of his poems cast light on his relationships with family.
"I want my grandchildren to pick up a book and see themselves on page 27", the father of three and grandfather of ten said.
Raoul feels that he has achieved notoriety through his work because of his persistency, and though he admires many different writers and poets throughout literary history, his true respects lie with only one, he said. "After Shakespeare, they should have destroyed pencils," he said. Though this statement would appear to erase his own work, there is again a twist of irony in Raoul's story.
Because of his condition, Raoul cannot use his hands to write or type. But, because of many local groups that dedicated themselves to preserving his work, he now has a voice activated computer that makes pencils unnecessary in the first place.
"The Dreamworkers group, Wellstar, the Tommy Nobis Foundation and Talk Tech have been very Gracie to me, and I am thankful to them for this magical computer," said Raoul. "They are as much a part of my writing as anybody."
As a result of these efforts, Raoul has found and given meaning to many individuals through his mastery of words and language. To give back to those that have helped him, he plans to donate all proceeds from "Honeysuckle memories" to Dreamworkers, Inc.
"You start planning for you life when you're eating Oreos on a tire swing," Raoul said reflecting how his current physical state was unexpected during childhood. "You can ask who, what, when and where, but never why. Sometimes that's just the way it is."
**excerpts taken from Paulding Neighbor News, by Chad
Allen Stamm
Dreamworkers
first met Raoul five years ago. He has been an inspiration to many
of our members. If you would like to purchase a copy of Raoul's book
of poetry. You can send a check for $4.95 plus $2.00 shipping and
handling to:
Dreamworkers Inc.
% Joyce Hoobler
172 Lee Drive
Dallas, GA 30132
All proceeds from sales of the book are going to Dreamworkers, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non profit group. Any money received will be put back out into the community in such efforts as improvements: to the Paulding Animal Shelter, rescue pets, training therapy animals, etc.
Members of DreamWorkers were saddened to learn that Raoul passed away after
suffering a stroke. The dogs still try to enter his room when we pass it. They
don't understand why we no longer stop in for a bowl of water and some good
conversation. Raoul will be missed by his four footed and two footed friends
alike.
Click here for a sample
of some down-home poetry
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