COME IN AND STAY AWHILE

Stories

Smooth river stones in clear, flowing water with sunlight reflecting off the surface, evoking Mississippi’s natural beauty. In the upper right, the Salvation South New Poets Prize Honorable Mention badge highlights Jennifer Peterson’s award-winning Mississippi poems and her recognition as a Southern poet.

Every Place Is Home to Someone

This finalist for the New Poets Prize—also poet laureate for Hattiesburg, Mississippi—takes us on intricate tours of Saturday in a small town, the thin line between redemption and judgment, and how beauty and love unfold in everyday moments.

We Cannot NOT

Sometimes, the actions we should take are clear. A North Carolina poet takes a hard look at what happens when we fail to take them.

Ghost Stories, Master Race

A night spent searching the web for ghost stories from his home state of Virginia led Scott Hurd into the state’s dark history of sterilization and breeding to create a white master race.

Who’s Beloved?

This week, Salvation South reflects on matters of faith and tells stories about love and reconciliation.

The People of Africatown

The Clotilda was the last slave ship to sail from western Africa to the American South. When slavery ended, the boat’s captives built Africatown, their own self-sustaining community on Mobile Bay. With this week’s release of a new Netflix documentary, their story is about to reach the entire world.

Why Birds?

Virginia poet and novelist Jim Minick brings us a beautiful poem about a love for birds — and about love itself.

Oysters Spring Eternal

In Spring Creek, Florida, three young oyster farming operations demonstrate the modern response to the decline of traditional oyster harvesting along the Panhandle.

Our Beloved Oysters

A tale about Florida oysters, a remembrance of grandma’s apple-spice jam and a poem about a love of birds (and love itself).

Spreading the Love, One Jar at a Time

His grandmother made the best apple-spice jam this side of heaven. Keeping her tradition alive is about more than preserving food. It preserves memories, too.

Remembering Loretta Lynn

The South lost one of its greatest artists this week, and Salvation South brings you two remembrances of the truth-telling singer from Butcher Holler, Kentucky.

The Art of Forgiveness: Hattie Duncan

During a youth beset by polio and grinding poverty, Hattie Duncan learned a way of creativity that gave her a generous outlook on life and helped her become a beloved Southern folk artist.

Step Right Up: It’s Time for the Alabama National Fair

For the last 68 years, the Alabama National Fair in Montgomery has drawn thousands of people for 10 days of family fun — with roller coasters, prize livestock and maybe, if they’re lucky, some saltwater taffy.

“I’m Going to Heaven Tonight”

After Loretta Lynn died on Tuesday, the revered Nashville singer-songwriter Todd Snider wrote down his memories of his work with — and friendship with — the late great Southern icon.