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.

 

Dear Friends: At last: The recordings!

Awhile back I mentioned having spent weeks in a studio recording all my books of poetry. Now we begin to make them available, starting with the Introduction and first of the five sections of Rest in Love. We plan to release the other four sections, two at a time, over the next few weeks. As of now, you can play the Introduction and Part l and/or download them to your computer or to a CD. Compliments of the author. Instructions appear on the left side of each page.

In addition to recent poetry acceptances mentioned previously, a new poem, “For Gaza,” appears in the current issue of Socialism and Democracy (No. 50, July 2009). “Suicide Bomber” was just accepted for Mizna, and is scheduled for their new issue (Vol. 11: l, August 2009).

Although I give a workshop each year at the International Women’s Writing Guild Annual Summer Conference, held since 1978 at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, this year I thought I’d have to miss it entirely. Nevertheless, 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, Robert S. Dunn (1959-Sept. 26, 2008). Bengali/English periodical. As I remarked in my tribute on Nov. 16 at the Bangla Studios, Woodside, NY, “The poetry scene will never be the same without him.” Please note deadline: Poet Leigh Harrison is compiling a tribute anthology in his honor. September 24 is the deadline for submissions. There’s time yet to contribute something. Her email address: guitarbabe123@aol.com.

Peace, D. H.

 

Welcome to my new website! I hope you like the new look and format.

Last winter and spring I spent weeks in a studio recording all my books of poetry. As time permits, I’ll be making them available online, and also by publishing a CD of Rest in Love. Have been staying close to the hearth lately, and keeping mighty busy there, including work on a new manuscript.

If you want a breather from the economic scene, plus a few candid opinions of my own, it may interest you that I'm featured in four new poetry anthologies, with poetry acceptances in the U.S. and Europe.My review-essay of Poems from Guantánamo: The Detainees Speak, was published in Socialism and Democracy (No. 46, March 2008), a distinguished journal of research. A review of my two short novels (see next paragraph) appears in No. 47 (July 2008), the “Fascism” issue; a poem excerpt from Rest in Love appears in No. 48 (November 2008), the “Radical Perspectives on Immigration” issue, and a new poem will appear in No. 50 (July 2009).

Most recent book: Two short novels in one volume, Stigma & The Cave (Syracuse Univ. Press, 2007) complete the trilogy begun with Blight (1995, distributed by SUP and available in bookstores). Stigma & The Cave have received extraordinary reviews in American Book Review, Socialism and Democracy, Home Planet News, and on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Option to make a feature film of Blight has just been renewed.

Recent readings: Springs, East Hampton, NY; Bright Hill Literary Center, Treadwell, NY, and at the International Women’s Writing Guild Annual Summer Conference, held since 1978 at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY. This summer, for only the second time since the Guild’s inception in 1976, I must regretfully miss the 32nd such conference where each year I’ve given a writing workshop, most recently “Poetry One on One.” As first vice president and proud participant, I hope many of you will consider attending, for a week, five days, or even a weekend (June 12-19). I believe it’s the most exciting writing conference anywhere, offering nearly 70 workshops on the beautiful Skidmore College campus. Ambience is welcoming and supportive. And the food, served in a stunning new dining facility, is excellent! Click for details on the Guild and a conference brochure. 

I must mention the passing of a dear and much-missed friend, Robert S. Dunn (1959-Sept. 26, 2008). Brilliant, witty, quirky, a poet, satirist, cartoonist, host of poetry reading series, producer of Poet-to-Poet videotapes of readers, the editor, successively, of The New Press, Medicinal Purposes, and Asbestos, and consulting editor of Shabdaguchha, the Bengali/English periodical. As I remarked in my tribute on Nov. 16 at the Bangla Studios, Woodside, NY, “The poetry scene will never be the same without him.” Poet Leigh Harrison is compiling a tribute anthology in his honor.