"Matthew Holmes brings us to the end of his rope with a nuanced precision... we are not tethered by what he hitches us to, for as he writes, generously, 'the premise of tying' is, yes and ever, 'to untie.'" -- Er�n Moure "A solid debut distinguished by Holmes' far-ranging versatility." -- Steven Heighton Hitch is the first collection from New Brunswick poet Matthew Holmes. With quiet wit, Holmes introduces us to a world of quirk: science is skewed, deer are hunted with alphabets, the Pope is a potato offered to a homeless woman, and a sailor comes to terms with tying the knot--one that can't be untied. Opening with a series of poems based on historical figures such as Degas, Baer, Avogadro and Heisenberg, Hitch immerses the reader into a world of rich details--retelling past events and taking us in new directions. These poems revitalize the everyday, showing us the author's view from his window, his commute and even his major appliances. Readers will be drawn to Matthew Holmes' varied subject matter, colloquial language and captivating voice. In the title series, diagrams of knots and maritime themes are interlaced with reflections on love and partnership. Here the speaker becomes both the hitcher and the hitched, "learning this/ river/ with my fingers/ threading a hitch on each side." Holmes' work commands attention; even everyday objects and events such as fridges, dog shows and boots take on new significance.

マシュー・ホームズの『Hitch』は、日常の断片を「結び目」という鮮烈なメタファーで再定義する、知性と機転に満ちた詩集です。ハイゼンベルク等の科学的知見と冷蔵庫のような卑近な事象を等価に扱う筆致は圧巻。結ぶという行為が同時に解くための前提であるという逆説的な哲学は、読者の硬直した視界を鮮やかに更新してくれます。 海事の技術と愛の機微を交錯させる卓越した表現力は、人生が持つ「ままならなさ」と「美しさ」を浮き彫りにします。言葉を糸のように操る繊細な語り口に触れれば、自分が世界のどこに繋がれているのかを問い直さずにはいられません。ありふれた風景を聖域へと変貌させる、魂を揺さぶる一冊です。