Millicent Graham (left), author of 'The Damp in Things', smiles as she reads a copy of the book, while Samantha Sherwood reads a poem from the collection, which was launched last Thursday at the Bolivar Gallery, Grove Road, St Andrew. - Photo by Mel Cooke

Millicent Graham's pleasure at the launch of her first book, The Damp in Things, showed in a steady smile that occasionally broke into an all out grin last Thursday.

The people in full room at Bolivar Gallery, Grove Road, St Andrew, shared in the delight of not only the official presentation of the Peepal Tree Press publication, but also Graham's acceptance into the three-month residential International Writing Programme at the University of Iowa, United States.

Devon Yetman hosted the launch, with Hugh Dunphy of the Bolivar Gallery having extensive input in the programme.

Before Graham read from the book, as well as her next collection, which is tentatively titled Love From Stone, her work was read by poets Raymond Mair, Samantha Sherwood and Delores Gauntlett. Mair described 'Yellow Dog' as a "very unusual poem" and thanked Graham for "good, lovely poems". Sherwood read 'The Gathering', while 'Country Road' was among Gauntlett's two picks from The Damp in Things.

Graham beamed as she said she had chosen Thursday for the launch because it is "my favourite day". And she started her reading with two poems for her mother, one of which her mother actually thinks is about her poet daughter. 'I Am' is based on the many stories of her childhood Graham's mother passed on, while 'Mother in the Morning' is Graham's favourite way to wake up to a new day.

From her next collection, Graham read 'A Day For Death', a series of poems for people who have been influential in her life, but could not be at the launch, as they have passed on, among them Gwyneth Barber-Wood, whom 'On The Stairway' was about.

'Scotch Broth' was for Graham's father.

The line which gives The Damp in Things its title is at the end of 'Rain Days', then Graham beamed as she said, "I am going to read a few love poems". It was four love poems to the end, 'Balancing Act', 'Currents', 'Crickets and Dawn', the applause for the entire collection rising on the last line "don't raise up till I come".

Copies of The Damp in Things were presented to Pam Williams from the Jamaica Library Service and Susan Thomas from the Trench Town Reading Centre. Graham donated part proceeds from sales at Thursday's launch, as well as copies of the book, to the centre on Saturday.

As Graham prepares for the International Writing Programme at the end of August, she says, "I am excited. I feel like a schoolgirl." And she has been checking out the other persons who will also be in the programme, "trying find out what their writing is like and how they will react to mine".

The book launch was supported by Wisynco, Lascelles Wines and Spirits, Facey Commodity and Lyming at Walkerswood.