North/South Appalachia

04/01/2026

This group was created in February of 2019 for the Poets and Artists of Appalachia. Share your poetry and art here, N/S is inclusive and represents the voices of our region. Produced by Studio Appalachia. Attention; Selected Poetry and Art shared in the North/South Appalachia Group may also be e-published in the North/South Appalachia Blog @

North/South brings Poets and Artists together to further encourage Poetry and the Arts in the Appalachian region and supports Reconnecting McDowell. For electronic/print publication information contact [email protected]

02/27/2026

A Little Honey

It’s been a hard winter without the hibernation

dreams of bears to keep me asleep in the promise

of spring. I’ve had dreams awaken me before

dawn, which is not the best time to be awakened

by a dream. The snow has been deep and the cold,

cold for too long. I am not as much a bear

as I think I am. I have the restlessness of a man

too long restrained by conditions that cannot

be changed until they are. The trick is to awaken

like a bear in spring when the time comes.

I growl a bit, huff some in the mornings,

look at the calendar as if it can tell me something

I don’t see. Get another cup of coffee,

add a little honey.

-Byron Hoot

02/14/2026

https://northsouthappalachia.blogspot.com/2026/02/below-hull-stavros-niarchos.html

Enjoy the Mediterranean light before sunset. Talk among the crashing waves with equal abandon. Dive in the sea with architect friends. Why n...

12/03/2025

North/South brings Poets and Artists together to further encourage Poetry and the Arts in the Appalachian region and supports Reconnecting McDowell. For electronic/print publication information contact [email protected]

10/24/2025

October Light

I love the defiance of the trees in fall who refuse

to change the color of their leaves

until the last moment when they are just

about to drop their leaves by succumbing

to fall rains and strong winds.

I think this is how ultimate beauty is –

the revelation and then the haunting

passing like those trees finally

creating an October light more

beautiful than other trees because

they wait until the season

is almost over, whispering,

“Take me as I am or lose me forever.”

-Byron Hoot

08/28/2025

Attention N/S Poets & Artists;
Visit the updated N/S site and
send an email to be added to our mailing list
@ [email protected]
https://sites.google.com/view/northsouth-appalachia/
Produced by Studio Appalachia

Share Poetry & Art @ [email protected] Visit Reconnecting McDowell @ mcdowell.connections.aft.org Donate @ greatnonprofits.org/org/reconnecting-mcdowell-inc

04/03/2025

03/06/2025

Check it out!!

We are so excited to announce the dates for the 2025 Bridge LITFest !!!!

Plan to join us for a full day of workshops on Saturday, September 13, covering Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and more, at Venango Campus in Oil City, PA.

This year, we’re adding a free optional event Friday evening — the launch of our 2025 Literary Arts Journal! (Have you submitted yet!?)

And best of all— our LITFest is part of a larger celebration in Oil City: The Allegheny River Music and Arts Festival!

The inaugural Allegheny River Music and Arts Festival is being organized by the Oil City Main Street program in collaboration with the Bridge Literary Arts Center (us!!), Arts Oil City, the Oil City Arts Council, the Oil City Community Playhouse, the Oil Region Alliance, Oil Region Venango Campus, the City of Oil City, and the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, along with other historic, and entertainment businesses and the multitude of talented artisans who call Oil City their home. This event will take place along the stunning wild and scenic Allegheny River in Justus Park, Town Square, and will extend to the sidewalks and businesses on both the North and South sides, as well as at the Oil Region Venango Campus.

Mark your calendar and stay tuned!!

08/22/2024

Attention Appalachian Poets & Artists, North/South is in the process of selecting poems for e-publishing only. Send your poetry or art to [email protected] to be considered for our blog and join the N/S group to interact with regional Poets and Artists and to share your work inclusively. For more information please contact the Editors at the email listed above. Visit the N/S blog to check out our electronic publishing @

North/South brings Poets and Artists together to further encourage Poetry and the Arts in the Appalachian region and supports Reconnecting McDowell. For electronic/print publication information contact [email protected]