Gentle Readers,
It is my pleasure to introduce the Guest Editor of the most
exclusive Melic yet, what with our acceptance rate for "serious"
poetry approaching that of some of the snootiest print-zines.
No small amount of this credit belongs to Sharon Kourous, who
after consenting to edit this father-themed issue, promptly
suffered her own beloved nonagenarian hospitalized for a
mysterious illness (thankfully home again now, doing well).
This, in hindsight, predictable karmic eventuality necessitated
but little help from me, since I was out traveling the country
for near two months, during which I had the opportunity to meet
Sharon and her father in that hotbed of poetic webevolution,
Toledo, OH.
Thanks, as always, to our esteemed webmistress, Blake Kritzberg,
for designing what we think the most user-friendly litmag on the
net. Does anyone else have an open board (Melic Roundtable)
that can handle 5000 page requests a day as smoothly? She is a
wizard.
And now, dear Sharon, I yield the floor to your most capable
ear — and pen, with Melic's deepest thanks for your
contribution.
C.E. Chaffin
Editor-in-Chief
From Sharon Kourous, Guest Editor Melic VI:
Teachers take their summers off for granted. The long winter
hours may justify that, but we often forget not everyone can
tend the garden and the muse in leisure — part of the year,
anyhow. Sifting through the submissions to Melic this summer,
I arrived at a humble respect for those writers who get up, go
to work, come home, tend to family concerns, and still write.
Against all odds, against the slogging hours, against the many
human needs and demands, poets write. The Melic Roundtable
Board proves this as well, as do the many fine sites across the
web. If the health of a society can be measured by the health
of its artistic community, I believe the web is injecting all
the right vitamins. Reading for Melic has been a privilege.
Little did I know, when I told CE I'd have time this summer for
Melic, that the theme and my personal life would collide so
directly; that I would have to call on him for rescue while I
tended to immediate family concerns; that I would come home from
my fathers hospital room to read the many fine father poems
which came our way with a lump in my throat for my own. Thanks,
CE, for picking up when I dropped the ball, and for your warm
support while I was necessarily away from art. Or was I away?
For all good poetry derives from and celebrates the very demands
life places upon us.
Although no one poet is featured in this issue, we hope you will
find a range of work worthy of your attention. The issue
reflects our complex relationship with our fathers, the constant
tie of the blood, the many ways we break free from and yet are
always tethered to our families.
For Melic and Art,
Sharon Kourous
Note: CE has selected four standards to recite in lieu of a
featured poet. He will also be facilitating the
basic poetry course
slated to open (online) 10/1.
