I heard the news today
that U.S. flags fly at half-mast
for Dolly Parton passed away
and I admit that in the past
I found her songs embarrassed me
D-I-V-O-R-C-E and Jolene
– Coat of Many Colours seemed
mawkish to my younger self
Country Music as a whole I deemed
outside my broad musical taste
but life rubbed off my sharp edges
and the spangled Queen of Country
serious, caring voice came to articulate
the various emotions whether
experienced or vicarious that make us
human, empathetic, emotional creatures
Dolly, for me, joined Dickens and Steinbeck
Vonnegut, Irving and Heller
Woody and Johnny
Billie, Bessie and Patsy
in weaving strands of social history
binding them with music from folk,
blues and bluegrass, Appalachian,
rock and pop – winning me over
whole-heartedly
– collaborators like Linda and Emmylou
blended their voices with Dolly’s
in sweetest harmony
so today I can but weep that the fate
that comes to all of us eventually
has placed another star
in the firmament…
© Andrew Wilson, 2026
I wrote this on Wednesday when the sad news of Dolly Patron’s death was announced but I am sharing it with dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night hosted by Grace. Apart from anything else, it is a tale of how one grows and matures and reaches different understandings…
I always liked Jolene. Always. But more than that, I admire the way she forged literacy into the lives of children who might’ve missed out otherwise.
The more I learned about her as a woman, a singer, a savvy business-woman in a man’s world and a benefactor, the more I liked her. In fairness, I didn’t like Hendrix either till my twenties…
To me, she was a force to be reckoned with, and I’m sad she’s gone.
She was indeed, Mimi, and I am glad I came to appreciate her in so many ways as I grew up and changed…
I was so sad to read about her death. What an extraordinary and kind woman. It took me a bit also to like her songs but her character was what drew me to her. Another star gone away.
When I first encountered Feminism, it was not in the image of Dolly Parton, but now, I see her as a feminist icon…
She did so much good in the world especially her Imagination Library gifting books to children in hopes of planting dreams. A kind soul. I went to Dollywood last summer while visiting friends. I enjoyed all the theater presentations about her life and music. The woman behind the music.
We wrote on the same content!! My mom and dad loved Dolly so I definitely found a range of emotions and memories I hadn’t thought of in years with my folks! Such a nice adage to the Queen…well done Freya! 🩵
Its Frewin (my middle name) but if I had been a girl (and I sometimes wish that might have been the case) Freya would be a great name – a Norse Goddesss who gave us Frigging and Friday!
I loved your tribute to Dolly…
I’m with Marilyn, Andrew, I admired her work with children and literacy, as well as her attitude. I wasn’t keen on her fashion sense and am not a fan of country music, but I did enjoy some of her songs. These lines resonated with me:
‘but life rubbed off my sharp edges
and the spangled Queen of Country
serious, caring voice came to articulate
the various emotions whether
experienced or vicarious that make us
human, empathetic, emotional creatures’.
Yes, Dolly won me over too.
Watching her sing with Emmylou and Linda Ronstadt, you see the respect and love they had for Dolly and the three of them made one of my favourite albums (Trio) and that finally cemented my feelings for her…
A lovely, honest tribute to this fine lady.
Thanks Freya…
bravo Andrew – and ode to Dolly. A star of her own creation yet she never lost her sense of self or humanity. As the poem says “weaving strands of social history” – yes but our personal ones too as we grew and aged with them. Thus every one that leaves for the firmament feels like a personal loss
As I get older, I find myself tearing up so frequently, Laura…
Wonderful tribute, Andrew.
Thanks, Lisa…
Oh, she made me cry too, Andrew! This is a lovely poem to honour her. I grew up with her and she was always a light in the dark, she just always made you smile. And what a legacy she’s left behind (The Imagination Library, all the charities she supported, etc). Simply a wonderful woman. I did a tribute post for her today too (not linked up here though) so it’s nice to see a few other people have too.
I will look on your blog for that, Sunra – thanks for visiting…
A wonderful poetic tribute to a wonderful human being! We will miss Dolly and her straightforward story songs. Well done, Andrew!
Thanks, Dwight, I wonder, for how many other people, Dolly was a person who grew on one with age…
It’s beautiful that you have honoured her with a poem. And a great poem.
Thanks, Reelika, just speaking from the heart…
I learned to love country music spending many summery days with my grandparents on their farm. The late 40s. My grandmother was quite the talented whistler and I quickly learned the words to her favorites. I love your poetic tribute to Dolly, what a world it would be if only we might mimic her goodness.
Well said Helen – glad you liked it…
I really didn’t start to love country until I started to listen to Emmylou Harris who is out on a farewell tour right now… I had the privilige of listening to her performing on Wednesday… so it felt so real
This is such a powerful write, Andrew! She was a force to be reckoned with, for sure.
Thanks, Sanaa, sorry for the delay in replying but we were getting ready for and are now on holiday in France! We drove from Rotterdam port to near Strasbourg yesterday, which took a good eight hours and as we drove south, it became hotter and hotter – like driving in an oven! It rained in the night though so it is cooler this morning…