The Turner side of my family tree has been woefully absent from this blog. Time to correct that. My mother’s grandmother was Lula Lusty Turner. This post isn’t about her. I just happen to like her name. Perhaps the physician who delivered her was named Dr. Lusty. (That was a shout out to you, Uncle Sonny – you said you read my blog!)

Alva Nola Turner, Lula Lusty’s 1st cousin, 1x removed, was a preacher and a poet. And a mayor. Known to his friends as “Prod” and the literary world as “The Poet of Spring Garden” after his place of birth, his poetry appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country according to his obituary. I searched for him on Google and by golly, I believe it!

Having read a few of his poems, I must confess that I prefer poetry that rhymes. One fish, two fish is more to my liking. I am sure his poetry is very good but it was a bit depressing. Don’t take my word for it; read the opening stance of his poem The Philosopher.

He look at the wooded hills.
Repainted by the magic of the frost-brush,
Till his soul sensed the long silence of nonentity. 
And he said: “Death is a beautiful color.”

Poetic, yes. Something that makes me cheerful, no.

When I was researching Alva, I also discovered that he kept up a written correspondence with another poet for almost 40 years and the two never met in person. That’s a committed relationship. This tidbit appeared in the footnotes of Paterson, which was written by his pen pal, William Carlos Williams. Incidentally, Williams is credited with Alva’s success.

Thus ends the post on Alva Nola Turner. My soul sensed it has gone on long enough.

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relation: 2nd cousin, 2x removed 
Common ancestors: Alva’s great grandparents, Stephen and Nancy (Gilley) Turner, are my 3rd great grandparents

References:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=130550121&ref=acom
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse/23/4#!/20574373
Williams, W.C. Paterson. Paterson. Ed. Christopher MacGowan. New York: New Directions Books. 1992.