AI Grok Overview of Wrestling with Wisdom at the Crossroads: Billy Howell Reflects
AI Grok Overview of Wrestling with Wisdom at the Crossroads Wrestling with Wisdom at the Crossroads: The Aphorisms and Poems of Malachi Montroy, published in December 2025 by Rose & Pearl Publishing, LLC, is a self-reflective collection authored by Chilly Billy Howell under his pen name, Malachi Montroy. Illustrated by Madge Marley Howell, the book compiles original aphorisms (short, insightful sayings) and poems that emerged from Howell’s personal musings, often shared initially on the Delta Bohemian platform. Described as a “devotional companion” in promotional materials, it blends introspection, faith, and humor to guide readers through life’s pivotal moments—or “crossroads.” With its roots in the Mississippi Delta’s cultural and spiritual landscape, the … [Read More...]
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Dealing with Self
Pontificus Minimus Opines Feeling whimsical and blue Find something to do Worried about self Put it on a shelf Think of those without Stop the whine and pout Formulate a plan Lend a helping hand Come across a need Fill it quickly indeed For those of us who are among the world’s fortunate, let’s recognize our blessings and extend them to others! God Bless! pm WE HIGHLY … [Read More...]
The Blue Monkey
The Blue Monkey By Poor William Poor William has started to deal with and hopefully shed some wicked, holiday BLUES. He ain’t talking about the music that makes a grown and wanna-be-grown man lose what little mind he was given at birth. It’s much thicker than those nasty-ole blues! He is talking about that blue-hue funk that swings into one’s world from nigh on high in a Kiplingesque … [Read More...]
Portrait of an Art Teacher as a Young Woman
Portrait of an Art Teacher as a Young Woman By Guest Bohemian Alex Hemrick The Delta Bohemian is thrilled to feature an intuitive, humorous reflection by Delta Bohemian Alex Hemrick, a local middle school teacher in the Clarksdale Municipal School District. Alex and her awesome roommate and teacher Kelly West share a fishpond with Poor William and Magical Madge. Often prone to long … [Read More...]
The Delta Bohemian Occupies Itself
The Delta Bohemian Occupies Itself WATCH THE VIDEO IN POST Watch the satirical video of Poor William as he occupies The Delta Bohemian and gives his speech to himself on behalf of himself and for himself in spite of himself and beside himself. He sure does seem to like himself, except when he doesn't. Poor William wrote this ironic comedy on his iPhone at 6:00am while lying in bed. … [Read More...]
Have You Got A Clue What You Want To Do? Posted 11-29-11 and updated 12-7-11
Have You Got A Clue What You Want To Do? Posted 11-29-11 Updated 12-6-11 Updated 12-7-11 Updated 12-9-11 Check out the Sounds Around Town listing live music in Clarksdale at the bottom of this post plus a few other noteworthy events and opportunities you may want to consider. … [Read More...]
JB: Sometimes initials are enough
JB: Sometimes initials are enough By Poor William My Uncle “JB” Barnett passed away two weeks ago at the age of 88. I had the good fortune as a child to have a father named Roundman--an iconic Ole Miss Rebel, “fan” would not do his relationship with Oxford justice--who took me to all the Ole Miss football games and an Uncle JB who took me trout fishing and camping in the Ozark … [Read More...]
The Mississippi River: Two Swimmers, Two Trips, Two Videos
VIDEOS IN POST “May the river be with you!” -- Driftwood Johnnie Long heralded as one of the greatest natural resources in the world, the Mississippi River is finally coming into its own as a non-combustion-engine recreational source for swimmers, canoeist, paddleboarders, and a host of others on the lower Mississippi who use muscles and wind power to navigate the Father of Waters, the … [Read More...]
Simple Graces
5/28/09 - Pontificus Minimus Opines Simple Graces Simple Words Healing Power Phoenix Birds Ashes Risen Heart's Healed … [Read More...]
What Is Going On In The World of Clarksdale? Posted 11-16-11
What's Goin On In The World of Clarksdale? Posted 11-16-11 The holiday season is upon us. A friend of ours recently remarked, "It's not even Halloween and Christmas decorations are in the shop windows in Clarksdale!!" Have a look at Roger Stolle and Nan Hughes's listing of the music going on around town this week in their SOUNDS AROUND TOWN. Support the musicians and local businesses. We … [Read More...]
Mister Gates: The Piano Man in Clarksdale
(Clarksdale, Mississippi) VIDEO IN POST Over seventy years ago, prior to the advent of World War II, Timothy Louis Gates repaired his first piano. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s still making house calls. Incredible! Born in Jonestown, Mississippi, Gates was one of eight piano-playing siblings. “Everybody in our family played something on the piano except my father,” Gates said. When he was … [Read More...]
To Australia With Love: Enjoy a Quirky Delta Bohemian Mini Movie Clarksdale Shout Out to our friends in the land down under – Yo, Australians!
CLARKSDALE, Mississippi VIDEO IN POST John Henshall, Clarksdale semi-fixture and a known Delta Bohemian, requested that the ignoble but passionate Magical Madge and Poor William assist him with doing a quirky (we do quirky) video promoting Clarksdale, Mississippi to his Aussie counterparts in the Melbourne, Australia area. Henshall, a lover of Clarksdale and an economist/planner, has … [Read More...]
Watcha Doing this week in and around Clarksdale? Posted 11-2-11
Watcha Doing this week in and around Clarksdale? Posted 11-2-11 Updated 11-10-11 The Clarksdale music scene is now 7 days a week. Remember when we hardly ever had live music in town? We remember. Next music was just on the weekends. It wasn't too long ago we had to tell tourists, "Sorry, there is nowhere to hear live music on Sundays or Mondays or Tuesdays." Thanks to local bars, … [Read More...]
Snoop Dogg Does The Lyric in Oxford
Snoop Dogg Does The Lyric in Oxford PHOTOS AND VIDEO INCLUDED The Delta Bohemians cruised to Oxford this past Friday night to hear the indominable Snoop Dogg of Gin and Juice fame! Did they know they were going to be the oldest folks in the Lyric Theater? Fo No Shizzle! Solo rap artists Little Bill "Mysteryo" Perry (son of Bill "Howlin' Madd" Perry), Slim Goody and Stork along … [Read More...]
Clarksdale Coahoma County Airport Day at Fletcher Field
Clarksdale Coahoma County Airport Day at Fletcher Field PHOTOS and VIDEO INCLUDED Clarksdale Coahoma County Airport Day was held this past Saturday at Fletcher Field just outside of Clarksdale. Cool vintage planes (and a few shiny new ones) were on hand with a host of local pilots and folks who just couldn’t help being outside on a beautiful Mississippi Delta Day. Several hundred adults … [Read More...]
A Big Hawk in a small community
A Big Hawk in a small community By Poor William PHOTO GALLERY INCLUDED My good friend Delta Bohemian Bobbie Hawkins, longtime secretary for Sherard Elementary School in Sherard, Mississippi, was given a surprise birthday party at the Farrell Mississippi Community Center this past Saturday night. Poor William and Magical Madge were thrilled to be invited, though we showed up late as … [Read More...]
Former Clarksdalian Writing for The Daily Beast
Former Clarksdalian Writing for The Daily Beast PHOTO GALLERY and VIDEO INCLUDED “Sometimes it makes me sad, though…Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab … [Read More...]
Jonah, Pontificus and the Lord go ‘Round and ‘Round
By Pontificus Minimus What would make the 8th century B.C. minor prophet Jonah angry enough to want to die? What can Christians learn from Jonah’s human, though honest actions? How is Jonah like Pontificus Minimus? The word of the Lord had come to Jonah telling him to “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Jonah didn’t … [Read More...]
Sneakin’ Up on Lazy
Sneakin' Up on Lazy By Poor William TWO VIDEOS “I’m not lazy; I’m just a deep thinker.” Poor William battles an array of internal issues. In fact, they are legion, too many to count. Several have to do with poor self-discipline, a lack of tenacity when trying to push away from the table, and trouble delaying gratification. In similar fashion to the late James Brown, “I like to … [Read More...]
What’s cookin’ in and around Clarksdale? Posted 10-27-11
What's cookin' in and around Clarksdale? Posted 10-27-11 Clarksdalian Coop Cooper plays host at the Delta Cinema this Thursday at 6pm for his new film, THE BEST DAY. Visit Coop's website to read more about it. The 5th Annual Hambone Festival has events starting this Thursday with the main festival taking place from 12-5pm Saturday. Check out the details below. … [Read More...]
Langdon Clay – A new book from our fine Mississippi Delta photographer titled – ONE WRITER’S GARDEN: Eudora Welty’s Home Place
Langdon Clay A new book from our fine Mississippi Delta photographer titled ONE WRITER'S GARDEN: Eudora Welty's Home Place Photographer Langdon Clay, long time resident of the bucolic Sumner, Mississippi, home of the Cassidy Bayou Art Gallery, has a new book, published by University Press of Mississippi, titled ONE WRITER'S GARDEN: Eudora Welty's Home Place. Langdon has been … [Read More...]
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