Sunday, July 8, 2012

The Birthplace of Elvis in Tupelo


Birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, MS
Poem by: Patricia Neely-Dorsey
Tourism Attraction: Birthplace of Elvis Presley
Location: Tupelo, Mississippi
Photos: Courtesy of Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau
Excerpt From: My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems

"The Birthplace"
By Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Would anyone have suspected
The stories that these walls held
Of a mother working fingers to the bone
And a father who was jailed?
All the secrets that lived inside,
The world would not have known;
If the young man with the old guitar
Had not ascended to the throne.
Would anyone have wanted to know
About the family from “across the tracks,”
Who could hardly keep food on the table
Or clothing on their backs?
Would anyone have ever cared,
About the heartaches, pain and scorn
If this tiny frame house hadn’t found acclaim
As the place where “The King” was born?

---Excerpted With Permission from My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems, Copyright © 2012 by Patrica Neely-Dorsey

TOURISM GUIDE
Today, tourists can still visit the modest birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi. A far cry from the luxurious Graceland, this small attraction illustrates where The King began his life before he rose to fame. The museum is one of several heritage attractions in Tupelo related to Presley, such as the store where he bought his first guitar and the small church where his family attended. Learn about these and other fun places to visit in modern Tupelo in the links below.

Patricia Neely-Dorsey is a Tupelo poet who has been featured on SELTI twice before for her authentic voice in prose. She has two books of of poems, Reflections of A Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems, and My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems. She is also a dear friend, so when her new book arrived, I was so thrilled after the long wait of three years. No one promotes the Magnolia state of Mississippi and country life with more genuine charm and enthusiasm. Please check out both books on Amazon and learn more about her from her website link below.

TOURISM LINKS