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                                             Comments On Flesh That Was Chrysalis

 "Flesh That Was Chrysalis is an ambitious bumper crop of a book, filled with rich and lively poems."

     --T. & R.Weiss, Editors, Quarterly Review Of Literature

"Mel Belin is a poet of considerable parts.  He has a firm, clear line, and his language is musical and vivid.  He can write about swans in "The Rogue Swans That Like Classical Music" in a way that summons "the old world rising, its great wing beats" or meditate, in "Jael," on a haunting Biblical tale.  The voice of a genuine poet is heard here:  that is something rare enough in this cacophonous world, something to be grateful for."

                                           --Jay Parini, author of The Last Station

"A wonderful book of poetry!  It's nice to see such a superb work get the attention it deserves."

       --Ron Wallace, Series Editor, Univ. of  Wisconsin Press

 "Mel Belin is an accomplished poet.  Flesh That Was Chrysalis is an engaging anthology of his work showcasing the best that he has done to date and documents Belin as worthy of national attention."

                                    --The Midwest Book Review, Feb. 10, 2000 and the February 2000 Wisconsin Bookwatch

 "Mel Belin's poems in Flesh That Was Chrysalis balance the poignancy of change or loss with a spiritual optimism that a relationship or something else of transcendent value has been maintained.  The book has four distinct sections held together by their intelligence, spiritual sensitivity and respect for the traditions of culture and of poetry . . . Although I was unfamiliar with Belin's poems before reading this collection, I was excited to discover a writer with his skill, his range of subjects and heart."

                                     -- Marcia L. Hurlow, Small Press Review, Nov./Dec. 2000

 "Much poetry, like this work, is intensely personal, an intimate glimpse into the poet's private memories. The question about such poems is: Are they couched enough in terms of our common human -- or Jewish -- experience and written well enough to appeal to people with no knowledge of his life, family and friends? This one [collection of poetry] is."

 --Aaron Leibel, Poetry Editor of Washington, Jewish Week, May 6, 1999

 "A sharp collection crammed with images and stories that come to life poem after poem.  Strong, mythic, darkly humorous and most enjoyable poetry."

                                      --Melissa Bell, Visions Magazine (issue no. 63)  (Spring 2000)

 "A strong clear [voice] that makes familiar truths worth the re-hearing."

                                        --Lane Jennings, Potomac Review  (Summer 2000 issue)