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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Sunflower River Expedition: Take a journey with us
A Sunflower River Expedition! An excerpt taken from John Ruskey's update Keith Plunkett -- Lucy’s Revenge: 2 Days on a Sunflower River Expedition "We hosted Keith & Sharon Plunkett and their son Hudson on the Sunflower last weekend -- 11 paddlers on the river Saturday, 13 paddlers on Sunday, including my daughter Emma Lou! The river was smiling with all the attention. … [Read More...]
Hambone on Tuesdays and Red’s Blues Club for a Birthday
Hambone Art Gallery on Tuesdays and Red's Blues Club for a Birthday Red’s Lounge in downtown Clarksdale was the site of a serendipitous Sunday evening of fun, good eats, drinks, and some killer Blues performed by an array of heavy-hitters who were delighted to show up to help local transplant, Carol Vincent, celebrate her birthday. Husband Gary, owner of Vincent Productions studio … [Read More...]
Delta Delusions: Ain’t No Bugs On Me
DELTA SHORTS: DELTA DELUSIONS Ain't No Bugs On Me By WILLIAM PRENTISS My grandmother ruined me. I never had a chance against a bug. She used to give me an old metal bug sprayer and tell me, “Get that bug Bill!” She meant, “Bill, you better get that bug before it gets you!” I have been afraid of bugs my whole life as a result. I am not afraid of snakes (did get struck on the … [Read More...]
Some Stones Are Just Too Heavy
By PONTIFICUS MINIMUS This was originally published in the Clarksdale Press Register under the name of Poor William. Once again, Pontificus found out that Poor William had “borrowed” his writings and thoughts! “Man who lives to throw stones should understand trajectory of boomerang,” so says Pontificus Minimus. Jesus was emphatic about the consequences awaiting his children when they … [Read More...]
327-Pound Alligator Gar? That Ain’t Nuthin’!
POOR WILLIAM'S WHIMS: 327-Pound Alligator Gar? That Ain't Nuthin'! By POOR WILLIAM Mississippi might not be number one or even number 49 in education, but I’ll be damned if we don’t have the largest ever recorded alligator gar in the history of alligator gars: 327 pounds, 8 feet, 5 1/8 inches, caught on Valentine’s Day in Lake Chotard by Mississippi commercial fisherman, … [Read More...]
Juke Joint Chapel Jumps for Janet
Clarksdale, Mississippi Recent Coahoma County transplant Janet Coursin treated herself and bevy of friends to a swinging good time at the Shack Up Inn's Juke Joint Chapel. The party was a celebration of her serpentine journey which led her to the birthplace of the blues. Watch the … [Read More...]
Mr. February 2011 REDUX
He's baaaaaaaaacck!!! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO Mr. February 2011 REDUX WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE COMMENTS!! … [Read More...]
Delta Delusions: Reflections at Cutrer: A Ghost from the Past
By POOR WILLIAM CLARKSDALE, Mississippi NOTE: The following fictional story was the winner in the 2008 Delta Writer's Association's Tennessee Williams Festival Writing Contest. It was published in the Clarksdale Press Register in October 2008. What is it about familiar spirits—a Judeo-Christian concept, which holds that evil spirits can and do present themselves to select members of … [Read More...]
Planted Feet
By CORINNE VANCE Have you ever been comfortable? Content with where your life is just to have the carpet ripped from beneath your so called “planted” feet and found yourself lying on your back looking up at that high place you were just moments before? That is the worst feeling in the world. As human beings, we let ourselves get comfortable because it’s easier than always staying on our … [Read More...]
Northern Humanists and Delta Bohemians
By PONTIFICUS MINIMUS Pontificus believes the Renaissance was not completely antithetical to Christianity. Though hard to pinpoint its inception, the era loosely began in the 14th century and lasted for more than 200 years. The term Renaissance, meaning rebirth in French, was first used by historians in the mid-1800s. It refers to the revival of classical art, literature, … [Read More...]
AUDIO of “Whatcha Gonna Do?”
RADIOLAND Audio of "Whatcha Gonna Do?" Click on this Audio which inspired "Whatcha Gonna Do?" Audio Inspiration for "Whatcha Gonna Do?" (a Quicktime) And here is another recording of it if the first one won't work for ya. Audio which inspired the article "Whatcha Gonna Do?" (MP3) … [Read More...]
Watcha Gonna Do?
By POOR WILLIAM CLARKSDALE, Mississippi Why are Americans too often defined by their vocations? Is it the sum of our existence? Poor William says, “NO!” We are more than our jobs; we should be defined by our recreational and familial relationships and passions as well. Magical Madge recently gave notice at her place of employment in a downtown restaurant Clarksdale. It was an amicable … [Read More...]
Toomer’s Corner Makes the South the South
POOR WILLIAM'S WHIMS: Toomer's Corner Makes the South the South By POOR WILLIAM Today’s headline news in the Clarion Ledger from the Associated Press: “Auburn: Oak trees poisoned at Toomer’s Corner.” The aged oak trees are on the site where Auburn fans have long celebrated big wins. Ain’t that ‘bout a bitch? It’s sad for the trees, sad for the National Championship Auburn Tigers, … [Read More...]
Bradley Come Back To Clarksdale Town
By POOR WILLIAM CLARKSDALE, Mississippi PHOTOS AND VIDEO INCLUDED IN POST Clarksdale native son Bradley Gordon has returned home to our fair city to, among many things, open the Gordon Gallery. Bradley is a multi-faceted artist with gifts galore and a business mindset focused on getting things done. Already, Bradley has held numerous art openings in his way cool Gordon Gallery on Delta … [Read More...]
Mamas, Do Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Plowboys
By LIL JOHN MCKEE CLARKSDALE, Mississippi He was fastidiously arranged; his tailored Italian suit was nearly as shiny as his $1,000 Ferragamos. Like his jacket, his coiffed mane appeared a bit too grand for his diminutive frame. His limp-noodle handshake had left me with a slight sensation of hand lotion on my palm. He leered up at me through a delicate pair of horn-rim glasses with a Donald … [Read More...]
Mullet Theology: Blessing or Curse
By PONTIFICUS MINIMUS CLARKSDALE, Mississippi What say ye Pontificus? Mullet theology? Doth thou jest or are thou creating a new belief about God? Neither one my fair friend, I am merely proposing a contemporary name for the centuries old quest for the answer to many a Christian’s dilemma: Who is right, Reformation man or Renaissance man? Mullet theology combines a little of … [Read More...]
Delta Dreaming on a Winter’s Day
By POOR WILLIAM NOTE: Thanks to Brooks Ann Gaston and Delilah Hollis, both who responded to Poor William’s posted-on-Facebook request for subject matter for this week’s Delta Shorts flash fiction story. What follows is the opening line suggested by Brooks Ann and the title is from Delilah. "Why does everyone in the south want snow, but then complains about it when it arrives?” she thought. … [Read More...]
Herons & Otters: February is “Sunflower River Month”
By DRIFTWOOD JOHNNIE Sat, Feb 19th @ 12noon -- Meeting for Friends of the Sunflower River -- Open to the public -- at Quapaw Canoe Company -- Street level 3rd & Sunflower Avenue in downtown Clarksdale Great Blue Heron On a recent February Delta Day as I was walking along the banks of the Sunflower River with the sun rising over Winkle Paints and a choral of songbirds filling the air on … [Read More...]
Loofah Love and Legalism
By PONTIFICUS MINIMUS Pontificus was waddling in the bathtub last night and reached for Magical Madge’s loofah--an item he is most unfamiliar with--in order to scratch a bit of an itch on his foot. Well, it felt so good that he scratched the itch next to it, which led to a full body scrub down. The gentle opiner shutters to think of his testosterone-laden friends knowing that he soiled his … [Read More...]
Get It Done – a music video in the making in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, CLARKSDALE!
By POOR WILLIAM CLARKSDALE, Mississippi Behind the scenes at Vincent Productions in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in Clarksdale, Mississippi, producer, songwriter and musician Gary Vincent has been working magic in his unique studio with the one and only James "Super Chikan" Johnson. Gary was kind enough to write a song for his friend, attorney and businessman Bill Luckett, who is currently … [Read More...]
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