On July 2, 2022, Josef Guggenmos, one of the most important children’s poets in German literature, would have turned 100. But his poems stay forever young, just think of what is probably his most famous poem “What is the mouse thinking on Thursday?”
For the anniversary, the publisher is once again publishing an anthology of nature poems.
“The three strengths of Guggenmos’ poetics,” writes Arne Rautenberg in the epilogue to this newly published anthology, “are the special view of nature, imagination and the power of language.” And, it must be added, the quiet sense of humour. Most of his works were published by Beltz & Gelberg, illustrated in very different ways. Most recently, “Big is the world” with delicate illustrations by Sabine Friedrichson and “Oh, sorry, said the ant” with the very idiosyncratic, great pictures by Nikolaus Heidelbach.
For the anniversary, the publisher is once again publishing an anthology of nature poems. Stefanie Schweizer selected twelve poems, which she submitted to twelve different illustrators for design. And everyone approached these little poetic treasures in their pictures with a completely different approach and a completely different technique. This is extremely exciting, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes irritating, as you realize that your own imagination often takes completely different paths. For example, there is the poem “Under the Lawn”, which tells of the worms digging in the ground. “But what they feel down there / in the dark, in the cold / the worms, the many / when digging / no language can describe it / it is a secret and will remain so.” The reviewer imagines a dark earth with corridors, silence, darkness and industrious, mute activity, the illustrator Max Fiedler sees it completely differently: his series of images, which is very close to comics, is bursting at the seams, the world underground is loud, bulging , colorful and full of action. A challenge! And then you suddenly realize: Yes, you can see it that way too! A poem is just like a picture, the truth lies with the viewer. Sabine Kranz also chooses the form of a picture story for her interpretation of the famous poem “A giant threw a stone”, in which a boy carelessly throws a stone at an anthill and thus causes great harm. So you could discover something new and exciting in every poem, every illustration. Already Guggenmos said: “If you look closely, / then there is a lot going on / then the little thing is / nice and big!” (For the whole family)
Josef Guggenmos: It whispers & rustles – nature poems for children. Beltz & Gelberg 2022. 16 euros.