For Years Now: Poems by W. G. Sebald Images by Tess Jaray

In 1999 the late and greatly lamented WG Sebald collaborated with his admirer, artist Tess Jaray, to match each other's influence in producing twenty-three short poems each with an accompanying 'visualization'. The result is FOR YEARS NOW and while this may not bring new fans to those who love Sebald's 'novels', the book is beautiful reading. Though Sebald taught in the UK and was wholly bilingual, his books were written in his native German. This short book of poetry is a significant diversion in that the poems were written in English. The subjects are like brief thoughts, mostly suffused with Sebald's signature melancholy and rather disappointed view of the universe he strolled. 'Please send me/ the brown coat/ the one I used/ to wear on/ my night journeys.' Incandescent moments, minimal words, yet each with Jaray's abstract illustrations makes a significant impact. Simple though this short book is, it is further proof that Sebald was one of our more important writers who died far too young. Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05