Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Glimpse of a Poet's Soul, May 12, 2005
A slim volume of poetry, this book is well worth the money to acquire your own copy. The theme of the volume is , as the title suggests, love, romance and relationships. And for the author, the poetry is about one relationship in particular. These poems were mostly written to his wife.
It was only reluctantly that I started reading this volume. I have on many occasions read the poetry this author has posted here on Epinions. And I always felt , at least a little, that I was in the wrong place, doing something naughty. Once I overcame my voyeuristic guilt, I started to read. And I literally could not put the book down until it was finished.
I am not big on romantic poetry, and even in the movies I will see any thing but a romance if I can avoid them. And I admit I was worried that in the end this poetry would be trite, if not downright sappy. (I mean, love someone and write poetry? Sheesh!) I could not have been more wrong. Instead our author celebrates his love, not just for this extraordinary woman that he married, but for aspects of life that we so often take for granted. It is this joy of living that kept me reading page to page, and made me realize once again the power of words as art. Poetry can take you to another world, and if you submerge yourself in the cadence of these words, you may find yourself transported.
THE POET
Vincent E. Martin is a black man with a good job in IT. He spent 15 years in the navy. He is not in his twenties, and he writes prolifically. He has written essays on politics, theology , naval doctrine and history, law and various other subjects. And he has been married to his wife Pamela for 4 ½ years. This book is dedicated to her. People on Epinions know him as VEMARTIN, the "bard of Epinions". And so he is. THE BOOK
The poetry is divided into three sections.
I CELEBRATING THE ROMANCE, BEAUTY AND EROTICISM OF HUMAN COURTSHIP
This section has the feel of a love just beginning. In these words, the poet expresses his longing, and exultation in finding love. There is a quality of uncertainty in many of these verses, a need to show the woman he loves his essence and soul as well as recognizing and loving her. I have favorites among these for difference reasons.
From "Dare I Dream"
...Dare I dream of:
A white Victorian, hard wood floors under foot,
Warming fires and layers of soot,
Cold rainy days spent huddled on the couch
Watching old movies as the children shout:...."
This poem paints such a complete and vivid picture, it will stay with me a very long time.
The Second section OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP shows a relationship that IS , and which quite simply, the poet celebrates with joy and imagination. In this section there are also less personal friendships,musings and music (As well as a few highly personal). This is one of my favorites.
From
"Celestial Dreams"
...Ride
with me
across meteor belts and clusters of stars
to collect in our hands the red dust of Mars
rising...
Perched upon the icy tail of a comet shooting..."
The third Section PLEASURES OF MIND BODIES AND SOUL is a sensual experience. Some of these are quite erotic, and would have been hard to read (for my sweet retiring self) if they had been placed at the beginning of the book. As it is, it is a natural end to the love and joy of life expressed in the first two sections.
CRITICISMS?
I don't really have any. How can you criticize a bright shining soul or question the words he uses to define it? Yes, there are many words I might have changed were I writing the poetry (and you can all be thankful that I did NOT write the poetry) but then it would no longer be right. Reading it aloud, you realize that there is a unique rhythm and sound to the words that are used, and they take you deep into the heart of this poet.
FINALLY
I bought this book by going to Vincent's profile page and following directions. You can go to www.Xlibris.com, As I understand it , once you have bought the book it is printed for you. It took about 10 days to get to me. It was, as I already said, well worth it. I have known Vincent for a very long time, and his courtesy and kindness to me is one of the reasons I am still here, with hope for the human race.It was a privilege to review this book and get a glimpse into his very special soul.
********
Those of you who love someone so much you almost cannot bear it , read these words to her(or him). Read them softly, and sincerely as this author wrote them. You will not be sorry.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Got it from a "friend"., October 14, 2006
I like poetry, but this one goes under the bar.
The style is ambitious, but the author doesn't deliver.
My copy is going back to that same "friend".
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