Hickory – Redhawk Publications announces that Had I a Dove: Appalachian Poets on the Helene Flood, edited by High Country Poet Laureate Hilda Downer, has received the Weatherford Award from the Appalachian Studies Association and Berea College. The award was presented on March 19 at the Appalachian Studies Conference held at Marshall University.
The Weatherford Award honors books that significantly contribute to understanding Appalachian culture and history. According to ASA, Had I a Dove represents a milestone for the award, as it is the first time a poetry anthology has received the honor. One judge mentioned that the collection “would be a great choice as the one to break that pattern,” emphasizing how the poems reflect “the event of our time in the region.”
In their comments, award judges highlighted the anthology’s diverse voices and its deep connection to lived experience in Appalachia. Another pointed out the book’s timeliness and its presentation that “reflects the egalitarian spirit that imbues so much of Appalachian history and culture.” One could hear the perspectives of “many different voices” on an issue that remains ongoing and deeply rooted in the region. A third judge described the collection as capturing “the intimate link between art and a moment of time,” illustrating a shared process of hardship and healing.
Bringing together the work of 99 poets, the collection reflects on the devastation and aftermath of the Helene Flood, an event that deeply affected communities across the region. Contributors include Marc Harshman, Ron Rash, Robert Morgan, and many others whose poems speak to both loss and endurance. “The poems range from tender and raw emotion to all the stages of grief,” said Downer. “But they also shine a light—Helene, from its Greek origin, means torch or bright light—on what we can learn from this disaster.”
Published by Catawba Valley Community College’s literary initiative Redhawk Publications, Had I a Dove features poets—many directly affected by the flood—whose work reflects both immediate loss and the larger realities of environmental change in Appalachia. The poems explore pain, resilience, and reflection, while also prompting questions about environmental stewardship and its impacts.
Had I a Dove: Appalachian Poets on the Helene Flood is now available through Redhawk Publications, and proceeds will directly support those impacted by the Helene Flood: https://tinyurl.com/HadIADove.
