The Reach of Song
History of The Reach of Song & Its Connection to Reece
The Reach of Song takes its name from Byron Herbert Reece’s final published collection of poetry, released in 1952. The title reflects Reece’s belief that poetry extends beyond the poet — reaching outward into community, memory, and shared human experience.
When the Georgia Poetry Society established its annual anthology, the organization chose The Reach of Song as its title to honor Reece’s legacy and to affirm the Society’s commitment to nurturing poetry across the state.
The anthology stands as a living continuation of Reece’s vision:
- celebrating Georgia voices,
- preserving the work of contemporary poets,
- and acknowledging the deep literary roots from which our state’s poetry grows.
Each year’s volume becomes part of a tradition that links past and present — a testament to how far a poem can travel and how widely its song can be heard.
Byron Herbert Reece
Byron Herbert Reece (1917–1958) was a North
Georgia poet and novelist whose work remains one of the most distinctive voices in Southern Appalachian literature. Born and raised in the mountains of Union County, Reece grew up immersed in the rhythms of rural life, the stories of his community, and the stark beauty of the natural world.
Despite limited formal education, he developed an extraordinary literary talent, publishing four acclaimed volumes of poetry and two novels. His work is marked by musical language, biblical resonance, and a deep sense of place. Reece was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and received two Guggenheim Fellowships.
He was a five-time recipient of the Georgia Writers Association’s literary achievement award and was poet-in-residence at both Emory University and Young Harris College, where he was teaching part-time prior to his death.
Despite his literary achievements and recognition, Reece lived a quiet, difficult life, shaped by poverty, illness, and the demands of caring for his family.
Today, Reece is remembered as one of Georgia’s most gifted poets — a writer whose work bridges folk tradition and literary craft, And whose voice continues to influence generations of Southern poets.
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Your poem matters. Your voice belongs here.
The Reach of Song is published annually by the Georgia Poetry Society.