"Mari-Carmen Marin's beautifully rendered ekphrastic poems owe their notable success to her extraordinary ability to give herself over fully to the intimacies of experience. In so doing, these poems deep dive into a generous gallery of paintings-from Salvador Dali to Doris Zinkeisen-and develop outward in the manner of self-portraits remade from the poet's own image palette. This is a poet who understands that paintings inhabit simultaneously exterior and interior realms-the quotidian world and the world of dreams. Marin's gift is her willingness to carry this double focus through so many moments." -Jeffrey Levine, artistic director and publisher of Tupelo Press

"Mari-Carmen Marin is a singular voice in contemporary poetry. In this collection of finely crafted ekphrastic pieces, the page becomes a canvas, a visual field unto itself. Marin's poems are as stunning in their architecture as they are lyrical and thought-provoking." -Kristina Marie Darling, Fulbright Scholar and author of Daylight Has Already Come

"These ekphrastic works dance through a marvelous array of artworks, bringing hidden treasures to life and showing us news ways to see old favorites. Marin approaches poetry with the same sense of wonder, exploring different ways to imagine the poem onto the page . . . a true adventure in poetic form, a journey through art history." -Lorette C. Luzajic, founding editor of The Ekphrastic Review

"The Valley of Your Life draws inspiration from iconic works of art. Marin's poetry breathes new life into visual masterpieces, offering readers a meditative journey through themes of love, pain, contemplation, and resilience. Each poem is a reflection not just on the artwork it describes, but on the universal human experiences that art evokes. Marin's writing is deeply emotive, often weaving a delicate balance between vivid imagery and raw emotion . . . Her ability to mirror the mood of the artwork while exploring her inner landscape is a testament to her skill as a poet." -LITERARY TITAN

"A breathtaking collection of poems inspired by timeless artwork. Marin writes from a place of visual art appreciation. Considering classic paintings, like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, alongside more obscure works, the poet explores human emotion, relationships, culture, and nature . . . The poet experiments creatively with form: Marin uses blackout text to symbolize the erasure of history in a poem on the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, and a piece on Francesco Hayez's Vengeance Is Sworn reads like a theatrical scene. Marin mines a wide variety of artwork styles and eras." -KIRKUS REVIEWS

"The Valley of Your Life: Ekphrastic Poems is a poignant, poetic exploration that interweaves personal reflections, historical pain, and a deep appreciation for the arts, a launching point for an introspective examination of life's many facets-from love and solitude to trauma and healing. This intricate canvas of imagery and emotion highlights the profound connections between poetry and visual art, inviting readers to see the world through a dual lens." -Romuald Dzemo, THE BOOK COMMENTARY