Hucks: Wallace Poems Harken Back

A book of poetry about “Wallace, Idaho,” that recalls the bygone houses of prostitution begs reading: “Every 12-year-old charged/with selling something to benefit anything/knew like the Lord’s Prayer/the first steps you climbed led to brothel doors.” Whidbey Island, Wash., poet Linda (Hall) Beeman wrote those lines in “Hook Houses.” In a telephone interview, she told Huckleberries that she didn’t visit the Oasis, Lux and Sahara to sell school candy while growing up in Wallace, 1952-’65. But a classmate named Bruce did. Beeman was inspired to celebrate Wallace in rhyme after returning to her hometown for the centennial of the August 1910 fire. “That set off a series of memories and flashbacks. It flowed pretty naturally,” she said. Late mining magnate Harry Magnuson earned an entry: “His accounting and penny stock savvy/build inroads and a fortune.” And “Miners,” she wrote, “unhinge me/their raw edginess a glimpse into hot dark underground.” Linda penned poems about the 1972 mining disaster, the 1910 fire, I-90 and the Cataldo Mission, too/ DFO , SR Huckleberries. More here.

More weekend SR columns:

• Justice finally served in Thompson case /Doug Clark
• Slice: Wrong time for wonderful reference /Paul Turner
• Fairchild’s torture ties extend their reach /Shawn Vestal
• Smart Bombs: No escaping health care costs /Gary Crooks
• Outdoors: Permits in transition at Mount Spokane /Rich Landers
• Eye on Boise: Idaho Ed Board examining how to proceed /Betsy Russell
• Spin Control: Waiting for election results doesn’t harm anyone /Jim Camden

Question: Do you read poetry?