A Darkness Defined

by G.W. Kroeker

If Matthew Arnold was correct, and the purpose of poetry is to see life steadily and to see it whole, then G.W. Kroeker is an Arnold attuned to the modern world. He is sensitive to both the shadow and the light. Among his many awards and prizes are the prestigious William Stafford Prize (1991) and Great Britain's Lantham Prize (1993). His work has been translated into several languages and as far afield as the Republic of Georgia. Vernal Calibrations, his first collection of poetry, was published by Red Dancefloor Press in 1992.

92 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

I am an American poet and novelist who has lived in Aachen, Germany, since 2000, after marrying a German woman whom I had met while doing background for a new novel in 1998. Unfortunately, my wife died of metastatic breast cancer in 2005, but I remain here, living out “our” dream of writing full time. I am the author of a number of original paperback novels, which I would like to forget, and a handful of quality short stories.

More recently I released "The Badenweiler Waltz" (2007), a rich and multilayerd work which my wife helped give birth to, reading every draft, of which there were many, commenting copiously, and even read what we thought was the final draft in July of 2005 in hospital just before she died. This is a very special book for me, not just because of my wife’s commitment to it, but it seems to be the work into which I have poured all my heart and soul, a work which displays the best of my talents and abilities.

Most recently I have just released a newly edited edition of "The Magi in Winter" (2011)" which I confess unfortunately caused somewhat of a stir in 1997, when first published as The Magi at Christmas. Probably the word that I hear most often from readers, however, is "enchanting". I like to think so.

I am also the author of three collections of poetry, "Vernal Calibrations" (1992), "A Darkness Defined" (1994), "The Monika Poems" (2007). My poetry has won a number of prizes, but in this day and age, who’s has not. I am currently putting together a new book which will be a collection of new and selected poems from 1989 to 2009.

The great disadvantage of living here is that I write for an American audience, which complicates the entire publishing, marketing, and distribution of my work. The advantages, many inspirational, far outweigh the negatives.

For a more extensive biography and writing history, visit my website.