W. Joe Hoppe, born on December 24th 1961, is an American poet, short story teller and also a filmmaker. With the help of his artist wife P.S Monear, Joe has been able to publish a dozen chapbooks through Lucky Tiger Press. His poems have appeared in Analecta, Borderlands, Cider Press Review, Di*Verse*Cities, Nerve Cowboy, and Utter. Joe’s unique poetry video, $5200 MSTA, has been shown at the Dallas Video Festival, San Antonio Underground Film Festival, Austin Film.Festival, and VideoEx in Zurich, Switzerland.
Joe was a featured reader at the Alamo Drafthouse’s highly perceptive event, Dionysium.
He is currently a teacher at Austin Community College, teaching English and Creative Writing. He studies and also practices Buddhism and continues to love and care for son Max and Polly Sue.
Reading this book of poetry, it is clear that Joe has a very observant imagination. He is an author that does not shy away from life’s issues. When you read his poems, they grip you in a tight vice. He takes everyday objects and finds something simply beautiful in them. From an old car to rusty work tools and plastic grocery bags. There is nothing that Joe doesn’t cover and turn into beauty and romance.There is even a poetry section dedicated to his son, Max.
One of my favourite poems in this book is: “A blue poison dart frog chirps from a hole in the asphalt, a promise hemmed in by crumbling bitumen and rainbow slicks of motor oil under a grey flannel November sky. So warm so late in the year, so dark so late in the morning, if the bus never came it would be a blessing.”
This really paints a picture of beauty in just a couple of sentences. What a great poet!
Another verse that I really liked was: “In a hardware store with wooden floors dusted sunlight glints on the galvanized flakes of zinc silvered watering cans”
Joe takes an everyday sight and with his excellent skill turns it into something else that not everyone instantly sees
Breathless, this poem actually left me feeling breathless. As you read about trying to breathe on a beautiful morning with all the glories of nature around you yet how can your lungs compete with all the pollution pouring forth from the cars. He likens it to having a gun in the glove compartment which could kill, just the same as those exhaust fumes kill and there is nothing you can do about it but just go on struggling to breathe and survive.
A disturbing poem but so meaningful in this day and age.
This book will touch you and leave you wanting more. Joe Hoppe is a unique poet who has a great writing skill and creates little worlds within our own that we simply miss. A fascinating read.
The above review was contributed by:Jessica Roberts:Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews CLICK HERE
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