Featured Poet on Orchards June Issue
 

The beautiful Orchards poetry zine June issue is live, with featured poet Siham Karami, someone who can be seen running around the block, occasionally clicking her heels, and behaving generally in the manner of a lunatic having won the lottery. Bragging everywhere is what I'm all about at this point. My first ever interview. Eternal thanks to the wonderful Karen Kelsay, one of the best publishers around, and the fantastic Jeff Holt who conducted the interview. Did I say I'm overwhelmed? Excited? Oh yes, you might call it that. :D

Added important note: This is a spectacular issue including other Spherians: Katie Hoerth, Jan Hodge, Terese Coe, Marly Youmans, Mark Blauer, and David Landrum. It's a huge honor to be included with them and all the fine poets in this issue. Hope I didn't miss anyone!

Wow, Siham. That's a pretty impressive run of eleven poems. I can't decide which is my favorite--they are all so strong. Congrats,

Aaron

Thanks so much, Aaron! Coming from you it means a lot. I've long admired you and your poetry. I owe so much to the sphere and the wonderful poets here.

Smiling,
Siham

Congratulations, Siham! I look forward to reading the interview and poems later on today.

The world is your apple orchard, Siham. Big congrats!

Cheers to you.
Greg

Congratulations, Siham! Great poems, insightful interview.

Well done, Siham. Keep on dancing and clicking your heels!

Richard

Thanks so much, Cathy, Greg, Katie, and Richard!!

And Katie, your comment reminded me that you have 2 great poems there—which I much enjoyed! So I added you and others I recognized as spherians. I was so overwhelmed I forgot to add how much I enjoyed all the poetry in this edition.

Well, I have a special thing for Labor Day, but very much enjoyed all of them. (I haven't read the interview yet, but very cool to be interviewed, unless it's because your a famous inmate or something). Big congratulations Siham!

Kudos, Siham! I just finished reading interview and poems. It was wonderful to hear what you had to say about your poems and life in poetry.

Congrats Siham! Well deserved.

Excellent, Siham. You have every right to be proud. Congrats also to everyone else in the issue. And I enthusiastically second your remarks about Karen and Jeff.

Congrats, Siham! An astute choice by Orchards.

Best,

Ed

Thanks so much, James, Mary, Matt, Mark, and Ed!!! A special thanks to Ed for bumping this up so I could see the comments again. Somehow I hadn't noticed this. Mary, I'm so happy to hear your comments about the interview. It helped me to see things in a new way; hadn't thought about myself that way. :)

Best 2 all,
Siham

Congratulations, Siham! "Note from a Stranger at the Funeral" really hits home for me. These lines soar:

And I will free my solemn heart
from time and place

Yes!

Thanks, Terese! It means a lot coming from you, too. I'm glad those lines resonated; a lot of emotion put into this. :)

Siham

A huge congratulations to you Siham. Wonderful work. Click away!