It begins in Berlin, Cologne or Lisbon. It begins in spring, with a sky that has no clouds. Life returns, and with it the memories of children working in the cellar, of dew on spring flowers and daisies and of ghosts holding monologues in the shower. Someone is walking through the winding streets of a city, the light from Wuhletal station is reflected on the Miradouro da Graça. So why pause when the wind lifts you up like a sheet of paper? How much coffee should you drink before you let the radiators get cold? asks Nadja Küchenmeister in her long poem Der Große Wagen.

Nadja Küchenmeister lives in Berlin as a freelance writer. She has received numerous awards for her highly acclaimed poetry collections, including the Bremen Literature Prize (2015) and the Basel Poetry Prize (2022).

Henrik Szántó is an author, spoken word artist and presenter based in Hanover.