Keep moving – perhaps that is the key phrase for this volume of poetry, and for Nikolai Vogel’s writing in general. “A language that says it is outside me” is the long title of his new volume, published by Black Ink Verlag. The texts in it are quite short, and they are distributed unconventionally over the only 36 pages. “Short poems / Remember better,” it says laconically right at the beginning.
Nikolai Vogel always focuses on the development of the self in the world. The “crap in our heads”, the greed, the arms trade, the war, even the depression. This is often unmistakable and is deliberately simple in language and message. But the Munich author also allows himself “freedom” for “further thoughts,” and despite all the urgency, for him “play always remains play.” This fits perfectly with the playful Institute for Bagonal Studies, where he is now presenting the volume.
Nikolai Vogel, reading, Friday, January 19th, 8 p.m., poetry in the Caveau, Institute for Bagonal StudiesGörresstraße 32