Poems

One ordinary school day in 2016, I was presented with Paul Celan’s poem Todesfuge. Little did I know that this text would draw me deep into the parallel world of poetry which hasn’t let me out since. My fascination with the formal side of language, as vital a tool for poets as the emotional or figurative elements, led me on an intense journey of exploration into stylistics and metrical theory.

Exploring more intricate poetic forms, I found a natural inclination to infuse them with my own material taking hold. Yet, when that material runs out, I find satisfaction in reshaping verses by other poets into my native language, all while preserving the original form. It might be a bit like the comfort some find in solving sudokus—an activity both technical and creative. While completed sudokus often fade into forgetfulness, a poem—whether written by you or another—can unfold new significance every time you choose to look back.

I have participated in several poetry competitions and published my poems and translations in various anthologies and journals. My translation work focuses on 20th-century Russian and English poetry as well as Ancient Greek and Latin literature. For a complete list of my poems and publications, visit my website Metēora (in German). Explore below for articles on poetry and literature in general (mostly in German):