At Work on the Garments of Refuge: Poems by Daniel Marlin and Ralph Dranow (Ebook)
An exquisite book of poetry crafted by two fine poets who were best friends.
After poet and artist Dan Marlin passed in 2017, fellow poet Ralph Dranow brought together a lovely tribute to his best friend of 39 years in this book featuring their respective poems. A sense of compassion for all living beings links the poetry of both poets, especially for those easily overlooked, the vulnerable ones, often existing on the margins of society, animals as well as human. Humor also lightens these pages, reminding us that life also has its lighter side.
"Over the years," writes Ralph in his Introduction, "Dan just kept getting better and better, creating a prolific body of work with tremendous power, combining free-flowing lyricism, precise description, moral passion, and wry humor." Ralph's own closely observed poems are a perfect complement, offering a glimpse into the subtle beauty of ordinary human beings.
An exquisite book of poetry crafted by two fine poets who were best friends.
After poet and artist Dan Marlin passed in 2017, fellow poet Ralph Dranow brought together a lovely tribute to his best friend of 39 years in this book featuring their respective poems. A sense of compassion for all living beings links the poetry of both poets, especially for those easily overlooked, the vulnerable ones, often existing on the margins of society, animals as well as human. Humor also lightens these pages, reminding us that life also has its lighter side.
"Over the years," writes Ralph in his Introduction, "Dan just kept getting better and better, creating a prolific body of work with tremendous power, combining free-flowing lyricism, precise description, moral passion, and wry humor." Ralph's own closely observed poems are a perfect complement, offering a glimpse into the subtle beauty of ordinary human beings.
An exquisite book of poetry crafted by two fine poets who were best friends.
After poet and artist Dan Marlin passed in 2017, fellow poet Ralph Dranow brought together a lovely tribute to his best friend of 39 years in this book featuring their respective poems. A sense of compassion for all living beings links the poetry of both poets, especially for those easily overlooked, the vulnerable ones, often existing on the margins of society, animals as well as human. Humor also lightens these pages, reminding us that life also has its lighter side.
"Over the years," writes Ralph in his Introduction, "Dan just kept getting better and better, creating a prolific body of work with tremendous power, combining free-flowing lyricism, precise description, moral passion, and wry humor." Ralph's own closely observed poems are a perfect complement, offering a glimpse into the subtle beauty of ordinary human beings.
About the Authors
Daniel Marlin (1945-2017) was an accomplished artist who created many vibrant paintings and drawings, some of which appear in this book. His poems are filled with rich imagery and precise details, exploring themes from social justice to love and nature.
Ralph Dranow is a close observer of people whose poems express the subtle beauty of ordinary human beings. He excels at dramatic monologues, capturing urban voices and stories with precision and compassion.
Reader Reviews
"What a lovely book of poems! This is an exquisite book of poetry crafted by two fine poets who were best friends. Daniel Marlin wrote soul-stirring poems, simple, elegant, thoughtful and inspired... This is a man who had a gift for language but never over did it, never went over-the-top, always stayed grounded and real. The poems of Ralph Dranow are up to the task as well. [They] have a strong narrative. . . . portraits of people, offbeat characters, handled lovingly and with respect." — Gary Turchin
"At Work on the Garments of Refuge is actually two wonderful books of poetry in one volume. Although the authors were close friends for 39 years and share many of the same themes, each author has a distinct voice and style.... Marlin is an accomplished poet of many themes and styles. He's an anti-war poet without ranting, a poet of witness, and captures voices with remarkable skill.... Dranow explores a number of poetic styles, but he shines in writing dramatic monologues, capturing the urban voices and stories of Oakland with precision and compassion." — Judith Wells, author of multiple poetry books including The Glass Ship, Everything Irish, and Been in Berkeley Too Long
