New Jersey-based Robert Marashlian, whose parents hail from
Jerusalem, has been writing poetry for as long as he can remember.
But somehow he never got around to having any of his work
published. Until now.
New York publisher Vantage Press has now made that dream of his come true.
The
new
poetry
anthology
is
entitled
"The
Odyssey
of
Life"
and
will
contain
some
of
his
latest
poem
"The
poetry
of
Robert
Marashlian
is
frequently
a
criticism
of
contemporary
society's beliefs as well as the way we now live.
His
work
reflects
his
feelings
toward
the
outstanding
events
of
our
times,
not
to
mention
his profound appreciation of life," according to a book review.
"The
Odyssey
of
Life,"
Robert's
first
published
collection,
brings
together
the
best
of
his
work spanning three decades.
Subtitled
"Poems
of
Truth,"
this
forthright
volume
presents
social
and
political
concerns,
underscores
the
poet's
love
of
the
natural
world,
pays
tribute
to
the
great
importance
of
an
irreplaceable
friendship,
and
honors
the
ideas
of
"filling
the
present
with
joyous
times"
and
"being blessed with musician friends who are talented and kind," the review says.
Poems
such
as
"The
Good
Old
Days,"
"A
Message
to
My
Muslim
Friends,"
"Jihad,"
and
"Iran"
are
eloquent
in
their
representation
of
the
volatile
times
in
which
we
live.
Ever
the
attentive
observer,
the
poet
also
ponders
his
"Conscience"
with
introspection
while
acknowledging the fragility of life in "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow."
The
Odyssey
of
Life
combines
artistic
flair
with
a
straightforward
outpouring
of
honest
emotion.
With
their
varying
joy,
beauty,
and
conflict,
these
poems
happily
compel
readers
to
see the world through Robert's discerning eyes.
Robert
graduated
from
Colorado
State
University
and
enjoyed
a
long
career
as
a
teacher.
As
an
educator,
musician,
and
member
of
the
Armed
Forces,
he
faced
many
challenges
in
his
life,
with
perhaps
his
greatest
challenge
being
his
diagnosis
with
multiple
sclerosis
in
the
prime of his life.
Not
to
be
deterred,
Robert
refused
to
be
defined
or
limited
by
his
affliction,
and
began
writing
poetry
to
express
his
feelings.
Through
his
writing,
the
poet
gives
readers
the
opportunity
to
meet
a
huge
challenge
as
well:
"to
understand
life
for
what
it
truly
is
and
how
to
live
it
to
its
fullest."
In
addition
to
writing,
the
poet
loves
music,
worked
for
a
time
as
a
musician, and composes creatively whenever he can.
Now
retired,
Robert
resides
in
New
Jersey.
The
new
poetry
book
is
to
be
published
in
April,
2008.
Robert
is
an
accomplished
musician,
singer
and
composer
but
has
also
found
time to turn his talents to poetry.
Robert
has
become
a
vocal
champion
of
the
unfortunate,
the
abused
and
the
downtrodden.
He
has
a
particular
dislike
of
self-serving
politicians
and
cannot
tolerate
aggression, and he is constantly bewailing the rape of his ancestral land and its people.
Although
he
can
hardly
move
his
body
around,
his
heart
and
soul
soar
to
inspiring
heights
in
his
poetry
when
he
proclaims
to
the
world
that
despite
the
dispersion
and
persecution
of
the past, the spirit of Armenians "still breathes and flutters alive."
Robert,
who
also
happens
to
have
devoted
himself
to
mathematics,
believes
the
"foundation
of
the
future
lies
somewhere
in
the
past."
Evocative
thoughts
from
a
sensitive
human being who knows the true meaning of courage in the face of relentless suffering.
In
"Armenia
Speaks"
he
accuses
the
aggressor
of
killing,
maiming
and
torturing,
of
leaving
"nothing
there
to
be
spared."
But
Armenia
remains
strong
in
its
faith
and
knows
that
"the
foundation of the future, lies somewhere" in its glorious past.