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About the author
MIKE LEIBOWITZ’s relationship with poetry goes back to his schooldays in South Africa, where an old-fashioned education included making him commit many poems to memory. This reluctantly acquired knowledge turned out to be a boon: the great poets of the past have been the steadfast travelling companions of this two-time émigré and continue to inform and inhabit his vision of language and the world.
For many years Mike wrote little poetry, and then always in times of tumult, when the comfortable furniture of his mind was being rearranged. But during COVID he took a long sabbatical and this freed up the poetic impulse. The result was his first book of poetry: Looking In, published by Sydney Jewish Museum press. Wardrobe of Secrets is Mike’s second book.
About the book
WARDROBE OF SECRETS covers a vast terrain. These poems come from every corner of a rich inner life: from moments of tenderness, and moments of irritation; from snippets of an overheard conversation; from random shards of words; from passages—read or misread—from the works of other authors; and especially from phrases that float into the crepuscular borderlands between sleep and wakefulness.
Some poems are responses to recent events; others have been brewing for decades. But while the subject matter is diverse, and the emotional tone varied, these poems are united by Mike Liebowitz’s probing and unceasingly curious mind; and by his scrupulous search for precision in describing what he sees and feels. The honesty and integrity of the observer is evident everywhere.
In Wardrobe of Secrets, Michael Leibowitz masterfully showcases his keen powers of observation, combined with a fresh and authentic voice. This collection of poetry not only highlights his prowess as a poet but also his deep creativity. Through a journey that resonates universally, Leibowitz delves into the quintessence of existence, exploring themes such as the passage of time, the intricacies of suffering, and the beauty of the everyday.Whether he is reflecting on the weather, the process of aging, or life's trials, each poem is a crafted gem inviting readers to reflect deeply. Leibowitz's subtle humour and profound insight into human experiences make Wardrobe of Secrets a compelling read, sure to inspire and resonate with a diverse audience. This, his second book of poetry, is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of life.
Dr Beatriz Copello
In Wardrobe of Secrets, Michael Leibowitz brings fresh insights into some of the eternal themes of poetry and to contemporary issues such as global warming. His writing is sparse (no words wasted) and simultaneously rich in imagery, metaphor and classical illusions. These poems are a joy to read aloud – a treat for both ear and mind.
Dr Dexter Dunphy
Michael Leibowitz has mixed and matched elegant style with colourful imagery in Wardrobe of Secrets. Memorable turns of phrase, larder of my heart, and topical reflections, love's a strange asset, meet classical allusion in a cogent array of verse forms. When spring is a harbinger of cinnamon days and Autumn mist drapes the field, this is a collection for all seasons.
Margaret Owen Ruckert