Work by local poet appears in anthology

The poem "White Horse" by Maryville resident Linda Freemyer recently appeared in the 2012 edition of Great Poets Across America, an anthology of work penned by amateur writers produced by the alternative publishing firm World Poetry Movement.

It is her third poem to make it into print. "Burrowing," based on a bullying incident she witnessed as a child, was published in Eber & Wein's Best Poets of 2011, and "Wheelchairs" appeared in Endless Horizons: Daybreak by the same publisher in 2009.

The title and much of the imagery of "White Horse" is taken from a biblical passage found in Revelation 6:2, which reads, "I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest."

Freemyer, who began writing for pleasure as a North Nodaway High School student, said she does not compose poetry regularly but sometimes finds herself struck by a thought or inspiration that compels her to set down verse.

"Some days I wake up, and there's something on my mind, so I just start writing there in bed," she said. "The poems just kind of seem to be there. All of a sudden you've got this coming out of you."

In addition to her free-verse poetry, Freemyer also writes and illustrates books for children and teenagers but has yet to have any of her prose accepted by a publisher. So, like many authors, she continues to labor for love of the craft.

Her creative life is not limited to wordsmithing, however. Freemyer studied art at Northwest Missouri State University and still enjoys painting and drawing, a talent she once employed professionally in creating images that were literally carved in stone at Clinton-Allen Monuments in Maryville.

Though the urge to write is always there, Freemyer said she is spending much of her time these days with her three granddaughters while she and her husband, Richard, anticipate the birth of grandchild number four.