Inconsolable

by Roberto Carlos Martinez

Inconsolable is an introspective work of poetry. It looks at the connection between self and those who surround us. At times tough, other times funny and inspirational, this confessional poetry seeks to touch the heart as well as the soul.

102 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2014

About the author

Roberto Carlos Martinez is a Salvadorian-born American author. He is the author of four works of poetry. He has a B.A. in Psychology and is currently obtaining his M.Ed. at George Mason University.

His confessional poetry has focused on improving perceptions of death, depression, kindness, love, and spirituality. Martinez's poetry has been featured in The Piker Press and The Outrider Review.

Reviews

[Kristy Rulebreaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I read this book, and I will read it again. After each poem I stopped to think. Some poems are poignant, some are encouraging, and others are just the observation of life. The style of this poet is unique, and not at all boring. I especially like these poems: Eyes Wide Open, Too Much, Tainted, Shine, Serenity, Don and Seasoned.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each and every poem within the pages of this book touched me on some level, and many brought me close to tears just from the emotion emanating from the words. I found myself more and more impressed with the author's talent, and I do hope that more books of this caliber will grace the shelves. My favorite ones were the ones about love and healing, as I can certainly identify with them on a very personal level. The poems flow so seamlessly and are written in such an elegant manner that, while I feel as though I wanted to race through them and read to the next one because they were so good, I had to take my time and really let them sink in. I hope to read more in the very near future.

[Jason Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roberto Carlos Martinez uses words sharp as blades to remove the flesh from feelings and thereby revealing their truths. Martinez’s voice is a singular roar in a wilderness from which he proclaims his truth, regardless of their haunting horrors. “Inconsolable” is a tribute of personal poems that seek to lay bare the intimate scars of a human heart and through sharing, the poems offer a sense of healing. From the collection’s first poem “Poor” the reader is drawn into Martinez’s memory: “Somewhere along the tracks, / the whistling and the echoes, / those who believed stopped believing, / lost in their perfection, / in the meaning of the words, / in the lies they told themselves and each other.” Those tracks, the tracks of Martinez’s memory is full of sadness, suffering and, yes, joys; these poems offer glimpses into his personal trials, including coming of age issues. It is through his concerns and crises that the personal and cultural are connected and Martinez’s “Inconsolable” becomes our pain.
The collection, however, offers more than pain – the second section titled “Bury Cupid’s Arrow” and the third section appropriately called “Healing” demonstrate possibilities of hope; the third section “My Heart Remembers Them” returns to the past, to memory and to hope. The book concludes with the poem “Paradise Lost” and ends with the question: “Is knowledge worth the pain / or is it worse living in ignorance?” And although Martinez offers no answer, he uses words in their essence and spirit to reveal the root of meaning, of understanding and empathy, and coming to terms with knowledge through a legacy of ignorance. This collection of poems is generous in its food for thought and philosophical gems. A few of my favorite pieces in the collection are “Too Much”; “The Game”; “Sometimes We Accept Crumbs”; “Root”; “Harmony”; and “Don”.

[Leesa Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of poetry. This writer doesn't write in traditional pose but rather in a free style format and it works for him as he has such descriptive, unique phrasing and metaphors that will appeal to many including myself. Some of the common themes are wisdom, the dangers and fear of humanity both in relation to their destruction of things on a larger scale and betrayal and cruelty on a smaller scale. Many poems relate to romance and lust, often leading to loss of self, lost love, or losing oneself within the relationship. As the book progresses, it becomes hopeful, inspirational, and has a message of self-healing. Some of my favorite poems were: Harmony, When Things Get you Down, High, and Serenity. I enjoyed the uplifting tones. The author uses language and themes that range from a broad spectrum of content - from the "ugly" of life to the beauty of life. Some of the poetry was reminiscent of Langston Hughes to me which was wonderful. There are several poems or portions from poems I will reread and possibly memorize because I enjoyed them so much. For instance, "In sadness, I want to be a kite, snapped from its string, flying away on a cool breezy day" and "In the garden I awoke to your scent, blown away by the reflection of the sun on your wet hair." The poem From Summer to Fall has a nice metaphorical meaning in it's title and works beautifully with the poem. I really loved this collection of poems and the vastness and variety of it's contents. The author has a knack for covering a very wide range of emotions. Five stars from me.