Merlin's Wing

"Brian R. Martens' Merlin's Wing takes readers on a poetic journey into the sacred interplay between myth, childhood, and self-actualization. With vivid imagery and a profound sense of wonder, Martens reconnects us to the intuitive mind, the sacred gift so often lost in a world of rationality. Through tender moments like those in "California Buckeye" and "The Quiet Home," Martens captures the magic of youth and the enduring myths that shape us. Whether evoking the Bushmen's survival in "Bushmen" or the soaring presence of a raven in "Merlin's Wing," his poetry invites us to see life with the eyes of a child-curious, trusting, and open to mystery. Merlin's Wing is more than a collection of poems; it's an invitation to rediscover the myths in our own lives, to dream deeply, and to embrace the unseen. Martens' words hum with the timeless joy of exploration, urging us all to grow our wings and embark on boundless journeys." -Poet Ed Coletti is the author of Apollo Blue's Harp (2019), When Hearts Outlive Minds (2011), and The Problem With Breathing (2015). "Brian R. Martens' poetry book Merlin's Wing resonates with yearning, humor, and intelligence. But mostly it is about passion. From the remolding of a candle that held "intimate conversations," to a child's cooing that becomes a dialog, to "bending thoughts into fudge brownies of longing," his exploration of feelings reaches into our own life. This is accessible poetry asking questions like, "What can turn a life?" or "which light are you drawn to?" A love poem says, "You have waited a year for this swoon." A walk in the woods asks us to "trust trees more than newscasts." A hand accidentally rests on a stranger's arm in a museum, and we are imagining what loss feels like. We are in Paris, in Sri Lanka, walking in the woods, picking buckeye blossoms, loving a grandchild, all with a deep connection and yearning for life. Brian asks about himself, "Is poetry enough to heal my own mind?" I think this book will go a long way to answer that question." -Linda Loveland Reid, Books: Touch of Magenta - Something in Stone "There are many fine poems in Brian Marten's collection, Merlin's Wing. They range from deep self-reflection as in The Voice, could the little boy at the bottom of the well be the poet himself when a child? To poignant environmental pieces as found in Albatross Liberation. He takes us from light verse, A Day at the Museum, to a chance encounter with a Quechua girl in the Peruvian mountains, to a soup kitchen feeding the homeless. Brian writes in the language of a poet who has worked hard and found his voice in verse: gentle, introspective, strong." -Armando Garcia-Davila is a widely published author. Among his works are, Out of My Heart, and At the Edge of the River, both collections of poetry and Profile, a collection of poetry and short stories. He has also written two novels, Speeding Toward the Cliff, and Scarecrow's Memories.