I still carry a pistol in my purse,
but my grin’s sincere, my heart’s peaceful
Denise Duhamel, Maureen Seaton, and Julie Marie Wade,
“Seventy-Five Lines for Dolly’s Seventy-Fifth”

January holds a just-after-Christmas dullness. Where is the joy and peace that seemed so present, or at least possible just weeks ago? One could say that these Covid-years have felt like a long January in need of some joy and peace. Luckily, if you are like so many folks across generations, borders, genders, sexualities, religions, and races, you’ve been able to listen to a little Dolly Parton to get you through. Brookshire introduces the collection as an outgrowth from a Limp Wrist Dolly-issue and bit of kismet between friends, but after reading through it, I think readers will find something we hear said about far too many poetry collections (but here it is true): here is something you, reader, needed. Here is Dolly.

I wish I could tell you this story ends
with applause. I know you know it doesn’t.
Chad Frame, “The Intimate Biography”
but I’ve been bad about looking at the bigger picture—
Diamond Forde, “The Great Equalizer”

Chad Frame’s “The Intimate Biography” and Diamond Forde’s “The Great Equalizer,” offer a one-two-punch assuring you that the editors of this collection took their time to make it exquisite; songs about unintended drag and unintended understanding are, after all, what a reader picking up a collection of poetry in fellowship with, inspired by, and in praise of Dolly Parton might be looking for. Their own story in someone else’s song. Someone else’s biography. If you don’t know a lot about Dolly Parton, Let Me Say This is a lovely introduction with poems about her career, philosophy, philanthropy, marriage, and religion. Like browsing a run-down “Bargain Store,” you’ll be surprised to find what you didn’t know you were looking for.

Her bird laugh tinkles like a bracelet. Barbara
doesn’t get it, the work it took to beat the men

to her body’s punchline, what is kissed
and is killed. Anyway I like the kind of person I am,

Dolly says, which makes me like myself, too.
Jenny Molberg, “Is It All You?”

Bloemeke’s own “Dolly Would,” Rachel Morgan’s “These Mountains,” Jeffrey Perkins’ “San Fernando,” and Jenny Molberg’s “Is It All You?” are just a few of the many gems in this collection. Who knows when this never-ending January feeling might end, but “In the Meantime,” as Dolly says, “Better Get to Living”—and if you need a reminder, turn to a poem or two (or the whole thing) in Let Me Say This.

Let Me Say This spotlights work by 54 emerging and established poets-- including Pulitzer Prize finalist Dorianne Laux, National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Denise Duhamel, the current Poet Laureate of Ohio, multiple National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship recipients, and two Lambda Literary Award recipients, among others. The editors are also donating all annual royalties from this anthology to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in honor of the Book Lady.