HERZENBLUT (Paperback)

"Herzenblut" (German for Heartsblood) is a chronological compilation of amateur poetry from 1972 to 1987. It is best regarded as the Author's poetic 'apprenticeship' as he first experiments with freestyle 'found poetry' but then works his way into prosody and 'discovers' meter, rhythm, rhyme, etc. All the poems in this volume may thus be divided into three phases: before Mitzi, Mitzi series, and miscellany. To be sure, the whole volume is subtitled "a poetry of selfish torment"; but the tragic love affair with Mitzi was what provided the themes as well as the motivation for the poems preoccupied with Love. This is signified by signing such poems as "Felix" with a touch of self-mockery. Much of this sulking poetry is bitter bile, painful reproach, or sour grapes; but evolutionary patterns may be discerned, which culminate in emotional breakthrough at the end. This is an original literary work written in April 1987, first published in October, 2007.