Poet's New Play Brings Civil War Family to Reconciliation

A new play in Knoxville is showing audiences that even the deepest family rifts can find their way to healing.

Linda Parsons, Knoxville's fifth Poet Laureate, wrote "Decoration Day" to explore how one family searches for light and reconciliation after the Civil War tore them apart. The play opened this month at Borderland Playhouse and continues through May 31.

Parsons brings more than poetry to her role as the city's representative for the written and spoken word. She believes poetry "connects us to each other, to the natural world, and to the past as well as helping us pay attention to what's happening in our lives."

That philosophy shines through in "Decoration Day," produced by Theatre 23. The story follows family members working through the pain of being divided by war, ultimately finding their way back to each other.

Why This Inspires

Parsons is using her platform to bring people together through words. As Poet Laureate through June 2027, she's planning projects that help Knoxvillians connect to their community and history.

Her upcoming project, "Declaration: I am Tennessee," celebrates America's 250th anniversary by featuring 30 Tennessee writers sharing how their state shaped them. The free event happens July 16 at the East Tennessee History Center, featuring readings of personal essays and poetry.

The Poet Laureate position itself reflects Knoxville's commitment to the arts. It's a partnership between the City of Knoxville and the Arts & Culture Alliance, selected through nominations and work samples.

Parsons' work reminds us that storytelling, whether through poetry or theater, helps us understand each other better. "Decoration Day" takes audiences back to a time when the nation struggled to heal, showing that reconciliation is always possible.

Stories of healing resonate across generations, and Parsons is giving Knoxville beautiful ways to explore what brings us together.