POETIC REFLECTIONS by -Mary Ann Russell- Paintings by Ed Breeding

Mary Ann Russell of Speedwell, Tennessee was an unparalleled poet in her time. She sadly passed away from cancer, but her pure and phenomenal poetry will live on forever. Seldom has a writer captured the truth and essence of life as beautifully and perfectly has Mary Ann has done in her amazing poems.
Mary Ann Russell was a very precious and dear friend of mine, and because her writings have always touched me so deeply and profoundly, her loving husband, Franklin "Toppy" Russell has given me permission to share her 'masterpieces' with the world. The power, beauty and truth of Mary Ann's poetry and prose stand above anything I have ever read in this genre. It is for this reason that I feel honored and obligated to have her work published, whereby it may go out into the world and serve the purpose for which it was excellently written.
Upon reading Mary Ann's poem about the American Civil War entitled: THE WAR, published author and editor, Eugenia Christensen, who had read almost every book ever written about the Civil War, cried as she told me that she had never before read anything which so perfectly described "THE WAR" as Mary Ann had been able to do in only four short stanzas.
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"Her inspired writing is for that special few who God saw fit to create. They and they alone will understand what she was trying to convey.
"Is there a price on the laughter of a child or the song of a robin? Is there a price on a September sunset or an October morning? Is there a price on the first fall breeze or the moonlight on a snow-covered woodland? I think not!"
--Franklin G. "Toppy" Russell

Because Mary Ann would write poems about many of my paintings when I lived in Tennessee, I have chosen to include some images of my paintings in this booklet. It would be a great honor and pleasure for me to receive comments from you about Mary Ann's poetry, of which I can pass on to her husband. Thank you!

Ed Breeding
Email: [email protected]