Poet. Professor.

The Poet

Mari-Carmen Marin was born off the southern coast of Spain in the beautiful city of Málaga. As a young girl, she fell in love with literature and soon began writing her own poetry as a way to bring her comfort and direction. Poetry provided her with a sense of order to her chaotic and complex feelings and ideas. She obtained her Ph.D. in African American literature from the University of Zaragoza in northern Spain. Shortly thereafter in 2003, she moved to Houston where her work has continued to blossom. Her poems have been published in numerous esteemed publications, including Wordriver Literary Review, Scarlet Leaf Review, Dash Literary Journal, Months to Years, The Awakenings Review, Lucky Jefferson, San Fedele Press, Willowdown Books, The Comstock Review, The Green Light Literary Journal, Mothers Always Write, Breath & Shadow, The Ekphrastic Review, Poets’ Choice, Kaleidoscope, Toho Journal, and Poetica Review. Mari-Carmen is currently a professor of English at Lone Star College in Tomball, Texas.

While in Houston, she prepared for her new career in poetry by completing Stanford Continuing Studies courses through Stanford University, as well as numerous poetry workshops guided by poets like Dave Parsons, Tony Hoagland, Courtney Kampa, Kirstin Andersen, Mong-Lan, and Beth Lyons.

The Book



Swimming, Not Drowning, published by Legacy Book Press, is a memoir in verse that takes the reader on the poet’s journey through her struggles with an anxiety disorder that often led to depression. The first part, “Deep Water,” explores the author’s childhood, family, personality, fears, disappointments, the generalized public unfamiliarity with mental illness, and other factors conducive to the onset of depression. The second part, “Drowning,” depicts what it feels like to be trapped in the disabling claws of the depression monster. The last part, “Swimming,” is a testament of hope, reassuring the reader that with patience, understanding, and support, everybody can learn how to “swim” the deep waters without drowning.

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Literary Awards

Other Published Works

01

Months To Years

Poem: "When I Die..."
Published: Summer 2019
02

Scarlet Leaf Review

Poem: “The American Dream” “The Naked Child” “The Scarlet Letter”
Published: 2019
03

The Ekphrastic Review

Poem: “The Color of My Past, Present, and Future”
Published: June 5, 2020
04

Mothers Always Write

Poem: “My Super-Power”
Published: June 29, 2020
05

The Ekphrastic Review

Poem: “Spinning Yarn”
Published: June 5, 2020
06

TOHO Publishing

Poem: “El Día de los Muertos”
Published: Winter 2020/vol. 2, no. 2
07

SpillWords Press

Poem: “El Día de los Muertos”
Published: Nov. 1, 2020
08

Breath & Shadow

Poem: “When You Stop Caring”
Published: Fall 2020/vol. 17, no. 4
09

Kaleidoscope

Poem: “How to Tame Wild Thoughts” “Intruders” “When You Stop Caring”
Published: Winter/Spring 2021/no. 82
10

Months To Years

Poem: “Abuela, What Will I Do without You?”
Published: Winter 2021
11

New Reader Magazine

Poem: “On Being a Mother” “The Big Sleep” “How to Teach How to Love”
Published: June 15, 2021/vol. 4, no.14
12

The Sepia Journal

Poem: “What Is in a Name?”
Published: February 2021/no. 1
13

Speckled Trout Review

Poem: “Vincent’s Night Sky”
Published: Spring 2021/vol. 3, no. 1
14

Litbreak Magazine

Poem: “Dream of Despair” “Living Is Urgent” “On Why a Woman Cheats” “No Liberty or Justice for All” “A Practical English Lesson for Spanish Speakers”
Published: May 23, 2021
14

Tint Journal

Poem: “Almería”
Published: Fall 2021
14

Book Viral Reviews

Review of "Swimming, Not Drowning"
Winter 2022
14

Discretionary Love

Poem: "Stood Up"
Published: April 10, 2022
14

They Call Us Literary Magazine

Poem: "Where Is Your Mother?"
Published: Spring 2022/7th Edition
14

The Ekphrastic Review

Poem: "The Thief"
Published: August 10, 2022
14

IO Literary Journal

Poem: "If Only You Knew..."
Published: October 24, 2022
14

Spillwords Press

Poem: "La Noche de Reyes Minus the Night"
Published: January 5, 2023

Contact

Want to contact the poet? You can contact her at maricarmen1999@hotmail.com!
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