Dear Friends,  

First of all, my new email is up and running.  If you received a bounce-back from an email addressed to me over the past few weeks, please re-send to the new address.  Thanks.  

Also my recording of Rest in Love is now complete!  See player on left; free mp3 downloads are below Part 5.

I'm looking forward to two readings:  The “premiere” reading from soon-to-be-published Art and Politics / Politics and Art, takes place Wed., June 9, at Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Broadway @ 82^nd Street, Manhattan, at 7 p.m.  There will be two other readers, a discussion and time for audience questions.   Click the book cover for a flyer on my 8th book of poetry, coming from Syracuse University Press.

This summer, I'll be reading at Brown University, Providence, RI, Sun. evening, August 1, at the week-long International Women’s Writing Guild Annual Summer Conference, July 30-August 6. My first publisher, Brett Rutherford, of the Poet’s Press, will introduce me. He teaches at the University of Rhode Island and heads the Poetry Committee of the Providence Athenaeum, sponsors of  the Philbrick Award.  All proceeds from my book sales will be donated to the Guild.

Although our Summer Conferences were previously held at Skidmore for 32 years, this year the beautiful Brown campus and excellent facilities will provide us with a new adventure. See www.iwwg.org for details, or call 212-737-7536.  Do join us there--for all or part of the week.  Commuters welcome.  All women “connected to the written word” are welcome, per Executive Director and Founder, Hannelore Hahn. We are uniquely and proudly democratic and supportive of each other.

I’ve scheduled cataract surgery for early July, so I am anticipating seeing you all more clearly, soon--in New York, at Brown, and elsewhere.  Will conduct my Poetry One-on-One workshop at the Conference with renewed pleasure.

Book party for Art and Politics / Politics and Art  will be in the fall at Pen & Brush, Inc., in their expanded new Manhattan location, near Chelsea.  Hope to see you at one of the events. 

Onward and upward!

Dear Friends:  A busy season, so far, in unexpected ways.  A bout with double vision sent me on a surprise grand tour of the medical profession.  I’m basically OK, so, as my son says, “No worries.”  Long-awaited publication:  Callaloo, a remarkable issue, Vol. 38, No. 4, 2009. "Gwendolyn Brooks, Black Poetry, and Me." The Jack Kaminsky photo of me with Brooks (in 1990) reproduced here appears in it. (Featured in the issue: Middle Eastern & North African Writers; Guest. Ed., Salar Abdoh, City College.) Copies can be ordered from Johns Hopkins Univ. Press at 1-800-537-5487. 

My eighth poetry collection, Art and Politics / Politics and Art, will be published by Syracuse Univ. Press in May 2010.  This will be my third book with them.  See also New York Poems and the two short novels, Stigma & The Cave, 2007, part of the trilogy Patrimonies, which confronts the question:  What kind of world are we leaving our children?  The first of the trio, Blight (Riverrun, 1995, distributed by Syracuse Univ. Press), is an environmental fantasy and has been optioned as a feature film. 

Another significant loss to literature:  the passing of my friend and neighbor, Sarah E. Wright (Dec. 9, 1928-Sept. 13, 2009).  She was a brilliant writer, author of the novel This Child’s Gonna Live, of poems and nonfiction, and she was a political activist.  An impressive memorial tribute, arranged by her husband Joseph Kaye, was held at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Sat., Nov. 14, 2009.  Among a distinguished group of literary and political figures, I was privileged to speak of her as a writer.

As first vice-president of the unique and vital International Women’s Writing Guild, along with officers and Board members I’ve been concerned with the move of our annual summer conference to Brown University, in Providence, RI, after 32 years at Skidmore College. Conference dates:  Fri., July 30-Fri., August 6.  While we retain fond memories of our previous residence, we look forward with pride and anticipation to our new venue. As Executive Director and Founder Hannelore Hahn, invites, “The Guild welcomes all women connected to the written word.”  Although we are designing a new website, I suggest that you visit the current one.  For further questions about the Conference, call 212-737-7536.

I had a warm introduction to Providence in 2007, when I was chosen as the ninth judge of the annual, prestigious Philbrick Poetry Award (judges listed on right of screen), presented by the historic Providence Athenaeum, the fourth oldest subscription library in the United States. 

This year I’ll be back, giving a workshop.  I’ve given a variety of writing workshops regularly for Guild Conferences since its inception in 1976.  Beginning in 2004, however, it’s been “Poetry One-on-One,” private sessions on manuscripts in progress.  This year, I’m only seeing one registrant per session, for the entire session.  Although the class is already subscribed, it’s possible to be waitlisted, in case of a vacancy.  You may contact me for details.  Peace, D. H.

Dear Friends: 

Awhile back I mentioned having spent weeks in a studio recording all my books of poetry. D.H. Melhem and Gwendolyn Brooks at PEN, 1990. Photo: Jack KaminskyJust out:  Rest in Love:  Of five sections, Introduction, Parts I, II and III are now available on the website!  Final two sections will be released in a few weeks.  You can play and/or download to your computer or to a CD.  Compliments of the author.

Big news:  My eighth collection of poems, Art and Politics / Politics and Art, will be published by Syracuse University Press in spring 2010.  It will be my third book with them, following New York Poems (2005) and Stigma & The Cave (2007).  I’ve been interested in art and writing all my life, and in politics nearly all.  The distinguished poet Philip Appleman notes: “Melhem’s poetry disproves the myth that poetry must be “purified” of politics in order to be art; indeed reminds us that only when we have sternly confronted the harsh realities of life do we deserve the joy of beauty.”

Brand-new acceptances:  “John Updike and My Mother,” Long Island Sounds Anthology (The North Sea Poetry Scene Press, forthcoming 2009), and a memoir-type essay, “Gwendolyn Brooks, Black Poetry, and Me,” in the forthcoming Callaloo (November 2009).  Photographer Jack Kaminsky’s lovely photo of us, taken in 1990 when I introduced her at PEN, appears with the article--and is reprinted above. 

“For Gaza,” appears in the current issue of Socialism and Democracy (No. 50, July 2009).  “Suicide Bomber” was accepted for Mizna, and is scheduled for their fall issue. 

Although I wasn’t planning to give my annual workshop this year at the International Women’s Writing Guild Annual Summer Conference, held since 1978 at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, I did make an impromptu overnight visit there to help introduce our keynote speaker, “Democracy Now’s” remarkable Amy Goodman. As first vice president and proud participant, I hope many of you will consider joining me next June, for a week, five days, or even a weekend.  Click for details on the Guild and a conference brochure. 

We continue to miss our dear friend, editor/poet/cartoonist/writer/reading series host Robert S. Dunn (Feb. 1959-Sept. 26, 2008). Poet Leigh Harrison is compiling a tribute anthology in his honor.  Please note EXTENSION of deadline for submissions:  February 2010, Robert’s birthday month.  So there’s time yet to contribute something.  Her email address: guitarbabe123@aol.com.

Peace, D. H.