Long Time Coming

Good Morning,

In my last post, I mentioned that I like books written in the form of letters. This morning Gayle King interviewed author Michael Eric Dyson on CBS This Morning. Long Time Coming by author Michael Eric Dyson, Vanderbilt professor and Baptist minister, examines race in America. The book is an epistolary novel.

Epistolary novels are not new. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, Dracula by Bram Stoker, and Carrie by Stephen King are all epistolary novels. Do you like epistolary novels?

I hope so. My work in progress will be a combination of letters, poems, and prose. Why? Many of my friends share my inability to focus for long periods of time during this pandemic. Others often need to catch reading time in bits because of busy lives. It’s my belief this is a good time for poetry and letters. Hope you’ll take a peak at my next novel. Warning. I aim to hook you from the first page to the last.

Have a safe day. Please wear a mask.

Not-So-Typical Novel

Good Morning,

Thank you for visiting My News.

Last night, The Color Purple was mentioned on two television shows back-to-back, Young Sheldon and B Positive. By accident? I doubt it. It’s Black History Month and The Color Purple, a 1983 PulitzerPrize winner, was written by Alice Walker, a Black writer. The poignant novel is known as an epistolary novel because it was written as a series of letters.

In 1985, Steven Spielberg directed a screenplay based on the novel. The film starred Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey and dealt with domestic violence and finding one’s self worth with the help of female companions.

My work in progress deals with an abusive relationship and will be a not-so-typical novel. My 2020 RPLA First Place Novel, a somewhat virtual novel, was written in the form of online chats.

Don’t be afraid to step out of the normal narrative form. There will be critics. Not everyone will like your creativity, but it could reap rewards, intrinsic and in the form of awards. Who knows? Maybe, your book will receive a brief mention on a television sit-com or be turned into a screenplay.

A Time to Write Poetry

Good Morning,

In 1777, around the time of the American Revolution, Thomas Paine wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Are you finding these time trying, annoying, or deadly?

Do you remember studying about “Common Sense” in American History class? Essays and collections of essays were common during that period of our country’s history. People wrote to express opinions and persuade others to believe as they did. Thomas Paine was expressing his opinion in emotional essays. Now essays aren’t as popular. Television commentators present opinions about the news more than the actual news.

Florida Poet Laureate, Peter Meinke, says the times that try men’s souls (I would add and women’s souls) are times that result in the writing of poetry. Many people wrote poetry after 911. During war, many turn to poetry to express their emotions.

Narrative poems tell a story. In contrast, lyric poetry expresses emotion.  Songs have lyrics, and are a form of poetry.

If you find the times trying, you might want to write a lyric poem or lyrics to a song. Rather than getting into political fights with friends on Facebook, try writing and posting the lyrics to a song or a lyrical poem. Let your emotions flow, but write in a non-confrontational manner.

Read Amy Lowell’s poem titled “Patterns” and Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and notice the difference in attitude each poet is expressing. How do their views on war differ? Try to write a poem that expresses your emotions about recent events without stating them outright. That’s what I’m doing these days. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Hope to see some of your poems online soon.

Praising Langston Hughes

Ain’t It A Shame by Melody Dean Dimick

Good Morning,

This 10th day of National Black History Month, I praise Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, Edgar Lee Masters, and my former students. All inspired me to create the poems that I incorporated into my three-act play, Ain’t It a Shame, published by Taylor & Seale Publishing.

During this pandemic, many of us have experienced the loneliness and Blues of Langston Hughes and my students. At times, we have suffered in silence or described our blues and misery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or our social media platform of choice.

I suggest you read some of Langston Hughes’s poetry available online. Teachers and directors looking for a play to produce, consider Ain’t It a Shame. It adapts well to being produced virtually.

Please remember when you feel blue and lonely, you are not alone, life will get better, and others need you.

Amanda Gorman

Youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, brought arts & culture to the Super Bowl. Thank you, Amanda for being phenomenal at both the Inauguration and the Super Bowl. You have proven that poetry is alive and well. 

Giving

Thank you for visiting my blog on Super Bowl Sunday. As I write My News, I’m hoping game day doesn’t become another super-spreader day. 

Throughout Black History Month, I’ve paid tribute to people who have contributed to others in a spirit of “It’s better to give than receive.” Yesterday, I paid tribute to Steph Curry for creating Curry sneakers for girls at the request of a young girl named Riley Morrison. I didn’t mention it on Facebook, but Riley is the name of the protagonist in the book my agent, Joyce Sweeney is currently submitting to publishers.

Today, I’m paying tribute to Tyler Perry, a true philanthropist. The theme of giving to others warms my heart. One of my favorite short stories is “The Gift of the Magi” by O’ Henry. It’s a story of giving with an ironic twist. If you haven’t read it, I recommend you do.

Super Bowl Sunday has proven to be a Tampa Bay opportunity for giving back to 7500 health care workers who have helped others during the pandemic. I applaud their spirit of giving. Celebrate safely.

Thank you, Kevin Campbell

I was able to participate in a poetry slam during the pandemic because my hero, Kevin Campbell, organized a Poetic Visions combination art and poetry event at the DeLand Museum of Arts. Thank you, Kevin “Noir Jente” for organizing this event.

A highlight of the event was a poetry slam at The Thin Man Watts Amphitheater across from DeLand’s Black History Museum.

In the photo, the winner is showing the work of art she selected for her ekphrastic poem ✍️

All made possible because of Kevin Campbell’s effort.

Day 2 Black History Month Faves

Good Morning,

Thank you for visiting my blog. Do you consider song lyrics poetry? I do. Some poems inspire me more than others. The same is true of songs. Living up to my name wasn’t always easy, but I love music 🎼 I wrote the lyrics to a song and a friend composed the music for my book, Backpack Blues.

Today, I’m paying tribute to Chubby Checker. I have fond memories of his song “Let’s Twist” from both my teenage years when I couldn’t afford to attend a concert and a couple of years ago when he entertained a crowd at the Volusia County Fair.

What I love about Chubby is his enthusiasm. He conveyed his love of music, dancing, and entertaining. He is a walking/singing example of doing a job you love. He invited attendees to join him on stage and came out into the crowd of mostly senior citizens and danced. Some had canes. Others had walkers. He made them all smile 😊

Thank you, Chubby Checker, for your contributions to my life. Thank you, followers, for visiting my blog.

Black History Month

Good morning 🌞

Thank you for visiting My News. I’d like to usher in Black History Month by praising poet Gwendolyn Brooks.

Like me, Gwendolyn was both a poet and a teacher. Her poem “We Real Cool” is one of my favorites. Find the poem by purchasing her book, Bean Eaters, or by searching online.

I love the message of the poem. My students found the short poem intriguing. After they read and digested it, they wrote their own WE poems and shared them with their classmate.

Please consider reading “We Real Cool” today. I’d love to hear your opinion of the poem’s message.

You may contact me by going to www.MelodyDean Dimick.com and clicking on Contact Me. Thank you 😊

THIS MORNING, VACCINE COUNTDOWN

Thank you for visiting my blog. Are you considering getting a vaccine or waiting for herd immunity? This morning, I tried to book an appointment for a vaccine. The experience was disappointing, but I’m not giving up.

Here in Florida, we are depending on Publix for our vaccine appointments. To book an appointment we go to the Publix grocery store website. The instructions look like this:

Coronavirus vaccine at Publix Pharmacy.

Our vaccine scheduling system is currently live, but full with other customers. There is tremendous demand for the vaccine and a limited supply, so please be patient and do not leave the page.

This page will refresh in 50 seconds.

If room becomes available, this page will display instructions on how to book an appointment.

At 6:00 this morning, I went to the site. Each county in the state of Florida displayed the number of vaccines available. Every time the page refreshed, the number of shots available dropped. By 6:50, my county was fully booked. I never saw instructions on how to book an appointment.

Flashback…On New Year’s Eve, I watched the countdown to ring in the new year. Since I’m a Pollyanna, I was optmistic life would improve. Like most people, I was happy to ring in 2021 and say goodbye to 2020. So far, 2021 has been like Ground Hog Day.

This morning, I was optimistic I’d see instructions for booking an appointment and disappointed when the instructions didn’t appear. My thoughts returned to my work-in-progress. (This is the time I usually write.) For a few minutes, I felt what it must it be like to be depressed right now. My work-in-progress deals with two young girls sharing a hospital room. One is suicidal.

This morning, I wonder what I can do to help young adults facing mental health issues during the time of the Covid pandemic and in the new normal post corona. What can we all do?

Ideas or questions? Please contact me through my website at www.melodydeandimick.com. Thank you.