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Dear Anais: My Life in Poems for You by Diana M. Raab Plain View Press
book review by J. Alpha
"I am Your Slave
I am pulled into your energy
I am yanked into all your good
I borrow your breaths..."
Inspired by diarist Anais Nin (1903-1977), Diana M. Raab's collection of poignant narratives in Dear Anais: My Life in Poems for You will draw readers into a unique feminine perspective that is shaped with insightful words and the intimate details of Raab's life which are rich in familiarity.
As one of the titles of Raab's poems declares... There's a story in everything. Indeed, readers will discover a wealth of Raab's engaging life stories seamlessly woven throughout this entire collection of finely crafted poems that illustrate the narrative power of combining an accessible epistolary structure of letter poems with the vivid imagery, symbolism, and multiple layers of universal themes.
Shifting with ease from a first, and second, and third person narrative voice with poetic grace, a wide range of emotions, and sophisticated humor, Raab's confident poems are filled with insightful words, details, and images that transcend the narration of her life, as illustrated in the following second person passages...
My Navigator—I knew I wanted to grow old like you, proud shoulders pulled back, despite years in concentration camp and the loss of two adoring husbands...
To Dettner—I wonder why you left in such a way, as the depression gnawed at your gentle heart...
To My Father—You had this radiant smile and handshake to fracture a bone...
In addition to Raab's perceptive characterizations, readers will also discover her engaging depictions of the assorted settings that have served as stages throughout various phases of Raab's life, as illustrated in the narrative persona and lively setting details of a writer's studio in...
Sketch of a Writer's Studio—a dimly lit purple lamp, stacks of crinkled purple file folders busting with shreds of wisdom...
Moving beyond the efficiency of a finely crafted poetry collection, Dear Anais: My Life in Poems For You vibrantly displays Raab's passion for life, and it will deeply move readers to revisit her engaging words.