Middle-East Mezze - Softcover

Radavich, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1935514113 ISBN 13: 9781935514114

Publisher: Plain View Press, 2010

Synopsis

Reading David Radavich's poems transported me to the Orient, to its "dry and teeming sands" and feasts of "dates and skewered meats." He dedicates Middle-East Mezze to "those who suffered and who dream" and does not shy away from the woe of the region. He captures the dignity and suffering of the Palestinian and Iraqi peoples. . . . Radavich's poems drew me in with their easy-going, conversational tone. In this collection, every poem is alive with energy and drama.
Jean Grant, author of The Burning Veil: A Novel of Arabia

Middle-East Mezze is a sumptuous buffet of lyricism and imagery. Radavich takes us to Iraq, Palestine and Egypt and, during our journey, forces us to question how such rich ancient cultures could have fallen into such desperation.  A poignant reminder of splendid heritage, these poems foreground the tragedy of war and injustice while at the same time delighting us with the wonderfully ornate complexities that make up the Middle East
Mike Maggio, author of deMOCKracy

Middle-East Mezze is a book of rare vision and ambition, given its sweeping geographical and historical scope. These poignant poems are finely honed, distilled to the essential.  The progression of individual pieces, each complete in itself, seems inevitable, reflecting a keen sensitivity shaping the book as a whole. This collection positively bristles with arresting and unforgettable images, whether evoking the swirl of a bazaar in Egypt, descending ancient catacombs, or making the desolation of an arid landscape palpable.  Ultimately, the work offers an unflinching act of witness-of conscience-breaking the silence about the tragic human toll of modern military conflict. 
Christian Knoeller, author of Completing the Circle

About this title

From the Back Cover:

This exciting new collection of poems explores the fascinating cultures of Iraq, Palestine, and Egypt. Based on family connections and travel to the region, these lyric yet sometimes searing verses offer a mezze, or smorgasbord, of experiences in the Near East—from the enchantments of myth and legend to the all-too-real hardships of war and occupation. The poems in Middle-East Mezze move through suffering and pain toward tentative healing and reconciliation.

About the Author:

David Radavich is the author of Slain Species (Court Poetry, London), By the Way (Buttonwood, 1998), and Greatest Hits (Pudding House, 2000). His plays have been performed across the U.S., including six Off-Off-Broadway productions. Fragments of the Third Planet received its European premiere in 2000 in Germany. America Bound: An Epic for Our Time (Plain View, 2007), narrates American history from World War II to the present. Canonicals (Finishing Line, 2009) is an anatomy of "love's hours." Radavich has read his work in a variety of locations, including Canada, England, Egypt, Germany, Greece, and Iceland. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

About this edition

• Publisher: Plain View Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1935514113
• ISBN 13: 9781935514114
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80