Closer to Dying

This is one of Marion Cohen’s few un-themed poetry collections. Earlier collections have been on specific topics rarely explored to that extent. It seems every time something happens to Marion Cohen, she writes several books about it. Her pregnancy loss books are five in number and her books on the experience of spousal chronic illness number six. And all of what she writes must be said and read. Closer to Dying is, relatively, un-themed. Its title sounds specific, but it’s only every once in a while that, upon reaching her early 70’s, she thinks about being closer to dying. Being closer to dying is not the only aspect of aging. There are poems here reflecting her experience past and present as a classical pianist and first soprano, her existence as a writer, her passion for mathematics and math-like things, her readiness to smash idols (such as Buddha), her fear of pain, torture, and to some extent her very body, childhood memories and dreams as they evolve through the decades. Here you will find miniature sequels to her books about newborn loss, as well as to her most recent poetry collection, Lights I Have Loved. It is very apparent that although she, like all of us, is closer to dying , she is not at all farther from living .