Poems & Short Stories of Marvin R. Mednick

About the Book

These poems and short stories vary in both size and content. Most are memories of my growing up in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. The poem “Woodridge” is among my favorites…

“I came from Brooklyn my father to gleam,

The house of Pagoda a baby would scream…

Although sustaining less laughter than tears,

Youth in Woodridge were still the best years.”

Another poem “Twins” I wrote for my friend…

“They came into the world like a Fox

Twins so a like, like shoes in the box

clock tick tocks…

He is my friend, the watchdog of my fury, guardian of the past

Shelly I see, sorrow, ecstasy of the soul, deck to the mast

forever to last.”

The short story “Liza Taube” is about a man beloved by everyone in my hometown.

“Louis `Liza’ Taube was born kicking & fighting, in the small town where he would spend his entire life…

“Like my brother Joel, he was an innocent child lost in the body of an adult.”

About the Author

Marvin R. Mednick was born in Brooklyn, New York. When he was still a baby, his family moved to Woodridge, a small resort community, located in the Catskill Mountains, about 90 miles northwest of the city. For many years his father, then he, were the projectionists at the local movie theater. Along the way, he fell in love with the silver screen, it becoming his life long obsession. But early on, he learned that as a projectionist, you could not earn a living sufficient enough to support a family. Having worked part time in the local drug store, he entered the retail industry following his marriage. After the death of his father and the destruction of that movie theater, coupled with the demise of the town, he was devastated. It was then, that he was determined to put on paper, what he had remembered about that small town, and the theater that would forever change his life. Although his writing experience was limited to experimental poems and short stories, he nevertheless, proceeded. Eighteen months later, the novel “The Lyceum” was completed. Following its publication, he was pleasantly surprised how well it was received. The experience was both therapeutic and extremely satisfying. As a result, he decided to pursue writing in a more serious vain. He completed his second novel “Joseph Randolph” and put together this compilation of poems & short stories that he has written on and off since 1967. And as of this writing, has begun his third novel “Man of the Year”. 

A single parent, with three children and seven grandchildren, he now resides in Savannah, Georgia