Stolpersteine

“The unifying factor of this delightful collection is that they are all ‘stolpersteine’ – memories or small glimpses that make us stop and look or listen. The poems range from the huge and challenging – like the importance of remembering the names of holocaust victims and glimpses of the impact of an abusive priest; to poignant memories of parents and grandparents; to the exquisite glimpses of everyday pleasures – ‘jazz in the morning’ children playing under a water hydrant waiting for Spring – to the many ironic images of life during COVID. They all remind us of the importance of remembering as well as the pleasure derived from ‘looking at and listening to’ ordinary events and images.”–        Karen Throssell poet“This is poetry abundant with life. Joachim Matschoss gifts us with detail that surprises and startles intensifying the pathos and horror the joy and beauty of the collection. It is visceral poetry: smells texture and unusual juxtaposition of images and verbs heighten the immediacy of every scenario. Music of popstars and birdsong concertos and jazz enhance the poems from the world we inhabit. Memories of loss and horror filter through the poems of pleasure and wonder. This collection is a clarion call to remember and respect while dancing in the delight Joachim Matschoss presents to us in many of these poems.”–        Anne Gleeson poet“From haunting considerations of history to examinations of recent disconnect and gentle portraits of the everyday Matschoss’ latest collection is an evocative of the things we see when we take the time to look.”–        Gabriel Bergmoser novelist and playwright