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Hitman - Baker - Casket Maker : Aftermath of an American's clash with ICE
Hitman-Baker-Casketmaker: Aftermath of an American’s Clash with ICE spotlights loss, change and resurrection. For the first time, Master Bread Baker Klecko reveals the circumstances behind the 2018 demise of St. Agnes Baking Company, just days before the Twin Cities hosted Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium. The 30-year old bakery was scheduled to be a primary vendor for the event.
In his compelling book of new poems, St. Paul’s top baker writes not of financial loss, but of the emotional fall-out of disbanding the bakery’s loyal and talented crew, most of whom are immigrants. Klecko tells of assembling the workers to tell them about their fate, of sharing a final lunch with a longtime member of his team, and offers meaningful reflections on those difficult days, and the ones that followed.
Hitman-Baker-Casketmaker also focuses on the relationships Klecko developed as a young man with people who were connected to the underworld and on the life-changing decisions he was forced to make at a young age – decisions which have impacted the rest of his life.
Klecko’s keen powers of observation are fully on display in this sophisticated and moving collection which further cements his reputation as one of the smartest and most original poets of the day.
In his compelling book of new poems, St. Paul’s top baker writes not of financial loss, but of the emotional fall-out of disbanding the bakery’s loyal and talented crew, most of whom are immigrants. Klecko tells of assembling the workers to tell them about their fate, of sharing a final lunch with a longtime member of his team, and offers meaningful reflections on those difficult days, and the ones that followed.
Hitman-Baker-Casketmaker also focuses on the relationships Klecko developed as a young man with people who were connected to the underworld and on the life-changing decisions he was forced to make at a young age – decisions which have impacted the rest of his life.
Klecko’s keen powers of observation are fully on display in this sophisticated and moving collection which further cements his reputation as one of the smartest and most original poets of the day.
- GenresPoetry
95 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 10, 2019
Well worth a read. Klecko offers insight into his formative years & how they've shaped him now. He sees beyond the surface level and gives the reader insight into human interactions with love and honesty.
He encourages the reader to re-consider different view points & to evaluate both the minutiae & more monumental moments in life with a new light.
After all, as Klecko says best:
"Attending the party is meaningless
When you're not accompanied by your tribe"
He encourages the reader to re-consider different view points & to evaluate both the minutiae & more monumental moments in life with a new light.
After all, as Klecko says best:
"Attending the party is meaningless
When you're not accompanied by your tribe"
January 4, 2020
I am not usually a big poetry reader, but I always trust my friend Bonnie’s Christmas gift book selections for my Minnesota book shelf. What a great choice! Yes, it’s poetry, but not the rhyming kind, and it was easy to follow the narrative story that linked the poems. I could see how many of the poems started out being told aloud at the monthly story telling sessions at the Black Forest in Minneapolis (one of my favorite restaurants, by the way), where Bonnie first encountered Klecko. It was also fun to get an autographed copy!
May 20, 2019
Klecko brought an interest in poetry that I never imagined. It wasn't my thing, but biographies are. And this is a life story and adventures. Never a dull moment and beyond depth and feeling. While I was reading my mind was racing with my own stories. He inspires life. He's the realist person I know. This book gives the why.
January 11, 2021
The first of my Klecko book deep dive.
Such an amazing collection and POV of the infamous closure of St. Agnes.
So powerful and raw.
Such an amazing collection and POV of the infamous closure of St. Agnes.
So powerful and raw.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews