3 Books Published by Past Tents Press on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Poetry. African American Studies. Melba Joyce Boyd’s latest poetry offering is an insightful examination of her relationships with family, friends, and collegues. She writes of the complexities, joys and sadnesses of lives shared, and the influences of daily living on them. As Jayne Cortez notes, "Life opposed to death, death opposed to life in New Orleans, in Detroit, in DEATH DANCE OF A BUTTERFLY. Melba Joyce Boyd’s most important volume of poetry is filled with interactions, eulogies, and ’streets beneath water stains.’ It is a collection flashing with poetic development."

Poetry. African American Studies. "Melba Joyce Boyd has drunk deep of the Waters of Remembrance. Thesepoems are grounded in her fierce humanity: they are songs of historyand dreams of revolution. They invite us to read, learn, and set towork" — Diane di Prima. "…a creator of healing songs, spinner of syllables that stand inour defense against despair. Here are passionate poems that do notshrink before today’s harsh realities yet powerfully remind us thathope and dignity are ours, a priceless gift from those who- invarious ways- ’paid freedom’s bill.’ Here are wise words. Here arepoems that light the way" — Lorenzo Thomas.

poetry, former coeditor of Broadside Press