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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Chuck Dovish presents Mississippi Voyageur Canoe Excursion – Exploring Arkansas (AETN)
Last week we hope you were able to read on The Delta Bohemian about Chuck Dovish and his noble cameraman Michad Holliday. Click HERE if you missed it. In the post we talked about the day, the people we met and, of course, Delta Bohemian John Ruskey of Quapaw Canoe Company. A rather lengthy video slideshow was included. However, today we want to share a rather magical video that Chuck and … [Read More...]
Watcha Gonna Do With So Much To Do? Posted 10-5-11
(Clarksdale, Mississippi) PHOTOS and VIDEO Two Unedited Videos Cassidy Bayou Gallery Grand Opening Party in Sumner, MS … [Read More...]
Frat Brother’s Reminder Humbles the Man Once Known as Chilly Billy
By Pontificus Minimus The opining minimalist enjoyed a long overdue meeting with some fraternity brothers last week after the Georgia Bulldogs trounced the beloved Ole Miss Rebels. The serendipitous encounter occurred in The Grove, a hallowed patch of ground located on the University of Mississippi campus. Home to revelers, football-loving alumni, spectacular beauties, tents filled with … [Read More...]
The Mississippi Delta is Stranger than Fiction
By Poor William CLARKSDALE, Mississippi Pssst! Did you hear…? Wow, those few words are heralded worldwide, albeit in a whisper, and they are breathed staccato in the cradle of the blues. The Mississippi Delta, with its characters silhouetted in black, white, and infinite shades of gray, has no equal in the “grist for writing” category. Almost everybody here—I love writing about a place … [Read More...]
What is going on? Tell me! Tell me! Posted 9-28-11
What is going on? Tell me! Tell me! Posted 9-28-11 Live Music, Gallery Openings, Street Parties, Blues Festivals, Book Signings and more! Get your calendar out, make your plans and get busy getting out and about Clarksdale, Coahoma County and beyond! The weather is divine, why can't it be like this all the time, school is back in session, football is happening and the leaves will be … [Read More...]
Experiencing the Mississippi River with Chuck Dovish, host of “Exploring Arkansas” on AETN, and Audubon Arkansas – Hosted by John Ruskey of Quapaw Canoe Company
Hosted by John Ruskey of Quapaw Canoe Company Delta Bohemian writers Poor William (aka Billy Howell), Fat Clyde (aka Lil' John McKee), Young & Free columnist Corinne Vance and Publisher/Producer Magical Madge Marley Howell enjoyed a recent excursion with fellow DB contributing writer John Ruskey, owner and founder of Quapaw Canoe Company. The special guests on this outing included: … [Read More...]
Rickles: The Greendale Arsonist
DELTA SHORTS: Rickles: The Greendale Arsonist By WILLIAM PRENTISS Any similarity between the arsonist at work in Clarksdale, Mississippi at present and this sordid tale of one delusional man’s poor understanding of scripture and what constitutes “loving thy neighbor” is purely fictional and coincidental. There are two tales--one real one not. The real one now occurring in … [Read More...]
Where Would You Like To Play This Weekend? Posted 9-22-11
Where Would You Like To Play This Weekend? Posted 9-22-11 Why do the weeks sometimes run together? Why do we often have to look back at photographs to even remember what in the hell we did last week? Living in the moment, in the present, begs that you live now and not hang so much on what is in the past, nor what is in the future, unless the future holds the promise of something wonderful … [Read More...]
Words that Defined My Words for Life
By Corinne Vance Writing has played many roles in my life. Writing has been a fun way to pass the time growing up in a small country town, it was my method of communication in elementary school, passing notes about which boys are cute and which ones have cooties, it has filled the pages of diaries with my thoughts, it has kept my days in order with an uncountable number of “to do” lists, it has … [Read More...]
Bad Information
By Pontificus Minimus “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The oracles they gave you were false and misleading.” -- Lamentations 2:14. STATEMENT: Bad information can lead to distress, destruction, and dismay as surely as a tornado can uproot a thriving city. QUESTION: What and who are our modern-day … [Read More...]
Poor William’s Top-Ten Slop Bucket List
My Top-Ten Slop Bucket List By POOR WILLIAM Normal--or what passes for such nonsense--folks have a bucket list now. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson made the bucket list famous, attainable, and nigh on a must in our living-well-above-subsistence culture. When I forget, often, how blessed I am, I yearn all the greater for a bucket list of opportunities to expand my horizons and … [Read More...]
A Few Thoughts On Why “Christian” Has Become A Pejorative
Pontificus Minimus Opines Ole Pontificus is not chunking big stones here; he is merely pontificating with his fingers on the keyboard. He is bad about that! Pontificus is a Christian, albeit a compromised one, who is seldom proud of his behavior. Why do so many Christians and non-Christians find the term “Christian” to be a pejorative--a word having a derogatory or disparaging connotation? … [Read More...]
David “Straight” and Adelaide
DELTA SHORTS: David "Straight" and Adelaide By WILLIAM PRENTISS WARNING: See end of post! David was always a good boy and now was a fine man. The self-effacing farmer/historian was an anomaly among modern Delta planters. He only took one drink before dinner, and that more out of habit; he didn’t hunt or fish, but allowed others to do so on his land. He didn’t give a damn about … [Read More...]
What Up in and around Clarksdale town and beyond? Posted 9-15-11
What Up in and around Clarksdale town and beyond? Posted 9-15-11 PHOTOS VIDEOS The past week held more activities and fun in our area of the Mississippi Delta and beyond. We couldn't make it to everything. We especially hate we missed the Mr. Tater Memorial Jam Night at Club 2000. Here is what we did cover.... The Lyric Theater in Oxford continues to offer excellent concerts in … [Read More...]
A Double Naught Spy He Ain’t
A Double Naught Spy He Ain't By POOR WILLIAM How can it be that a fairly intuitive, relationally perceptive man can somehow not notice objects apparent in his daily surroundings? Poor William, who once applied for a job with the CIA, always wanted to follow in Jethro Bodine’s--of the Beverly Hillbilly’s fame--shoes. He wanted to be a secret agent, or as Jethro defined it: a double naught … [Read More...]
Brit Dave Cornthwaite Completes his Record-breaking Mississippi River Expedition on a Stand Up Paddleboard
Brit Dave Cornthwaite Completes his Record-breaking Mississippi River Expedition on his Stand Up Paddleboard Yep, Dave Cornthwaite did it folks, and our very own Delta Bohemian and Founder of Quapaw Canoe Company John Ruskey was with Dave when he made it to the Gulf. If you don't remember who or what, check out The DB post from several weeks back ("Who is Dave Cornthwaite?") about … [Read More...]
Storms, Songs, and Freedom
PONTIFICUS MINIMUS OPINES "Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?” -- Rose Kennedy Whatever happened to “mind your own business?” Why are you telling me what to do? Why does the length of my hair Even matter to you? … [Read More...]
New Cassidy Bayou Art and Culture Center to Open in Sumner with Spectacular Exhibition Featuring New Photographs by William Eggleston and Paintings by Desaix Anderson
SUMNER, Mississippi Desaix and Buford Anderson are opening an art and culture center in their native Sumner, Mississippi. The newly named Cassidy Bayou Gallery will house art space to promote exhibits primarily featuring emerging Mississippi artists. In addition to the gallery, the brothers plan to charter the non-profit Cassidy Bayou Art and Culture Foundation to promote cultural events and … [Read More...]
Blue: King of the Walking People
DELTA SHORTS: Blue: King of the Walking People By WILLIAM PRENTISS WARNING: See end of post! Blue didn’t give a damn what folks thought. He had carved out a nice living for a 45-year old, uneducated black man in the Mississippi Delta. He didn’t have much, but he didn’t owe much, except whatever he “borrowed” from the downtown business folks who felt sorry for him while still enjoying … [Read More...]
Take a Jeep Tour with Chilly Billy
Abe’s Bar-B-Q
“It is a racist thing.” Say It Ain’t So, Morgan Freeman? Your Pity Party Doesn’t Serve Tea?
"It is a racist thing." Say It Ain't So, Morgan Freeman? Your Pity Party Doesn't Serve Tea? By POOR WILLIAM No Sir! Poor William never thought he would be writing this article. Having penned a couple of positive posts about Morgan Freeman, the actor, not the newly self-appointed political activist, I am loath to write this, but write I must. For the sake of full … [Read More...]