“What we learn from Michael Maul’s poems is that life resists neat organization. Death is tragedy, but there is always hope for those left behind. Adversity can be overcome. Comedy can be black. On the flipside, trivialities can unnerve and linger.

Maul is skilled enough to mix and match, to master the complex interplay between events and emotions, to do what a good writer should: show us what we are not expecting to find.”

“There is a startling breadth of vision in the carefully crafted poems that make up Breaking Cover, Michael Maul’s delicately somber, moving collection of poetry. These poems draw us into worlds that are at once both nuanced and awe-inspiringly expansive.

Breaking Cover contains phrases that I will remember, creates images that will haunt me and offers a careful exploration of experiences that I will be unable to forget. With exquisite agility Maul exhibits extraordinary power and range, and an acute understanding of exactly how to catch the poetry of the given moment.

Inside these pages he is steady and assured throughout, his vision is clear, and his gently perceptive words are a joy to read.”

“Michael Maul’s poems are hymns of reflection that sing in perfect time, as every living thing turns into something else: for grass, dirt, and the little creatures enwrapped in Nature’s swirl.

Instinct longs for permanence.
Hope nudges the transitory.
Jesus Bugs walk and skate on water.”

“Michael Maul has a special gift for making the quotidian poetic. He can also tackle the toughest stuff of life and find something there of beauty, something of comfort, even sometimes something to laugh about.”

“I regularly purchase books by poets. I especially like to read books by the US Poet Laureates, award winners and other well known poets. And since this is a newer author, I wasn’t expecting a lot. But I was blown away! I love almost every poem in this book. There are highs and lows, humor and pathos and poems that left me thinking for days. Honestly, this may be my favorite book of poetry ever. I hope to see more from this poet. A lot more. I know that taste in poetry is an individual thing, but I don’t think you will be disappointed if you give this a read.”

“I love the poems of Dancing Naked in Front of Dogs and have read them several times. I was unprepared for how beautifully crafted they would be. `A Face to Die For’ (about the passing of the poet’s mother) and `To a Small White Dog Napping’(about mortality shared by dog and man) are two good examples. On a personal level, the book brings to mind many things that I am also feeling. I’ve enjoyed it very much and wanted to recommend it highly to everyone.”

“I was fortunate enough to hear some of the poems from Michael Maul’s book read aloud by a friend. I’d like to know how the author finds words (and sews them together) like that. It’s a language I can understand but seems new in its evolution. These works really get right into the marrow. Highly recommend!”

“Michael Maul’s poems capture the essence of living in a difficult world, showing us we can survive even when faced with the worst life has to offer. His hopeful poetry makes even tragedy seem bearable.”

“In one of Michael Maul’s finely-crafted, luminous poems, `Dancing Naked in Front of Dogs’, the subject, an elder dog, remarks: `Who knew he had this trapped inside him?’ After reading his exquisite collection, we know what he had inside: a personal language, precise observations, authentic imagery and the courage to confront humans connections.”

“These poems unsettled me. Not because they were frightening or inappropriate, but because of their seeming neutrality toward many of life’s disturbing events. If you want to fully understand the poems of Michael Maul, you’re going to have to spend some time rolling them over in your mind. They are not to be taken lightly.”

“The best eBook you should read is Dancing Naked In Front Of Dogs.”

“After having misplaced Dancing Naked in Front of Dogs shortly after receiving my copy, I read it only yesterday — twice. This morning I re-read it again, a testimony to how much I enjoyed this book of wonderfully honest and imaginative poems. Thank you for inviting me into its world of sadness and joy. I am honored.”

“What I enjoy about Maul’s poetry is how observant it is. He sees objects and clothing in their materialized forms when the owner has passed on. It comes alive with the person, dancing and twirling with life. These are details that others often miss or are too busy to see.”

“Maul’s poems are full of life and death, peace and hate, love and loss. A thought-provoking chapbook which prompts the reader to think about their own experiences and reflect.”

“What we learn throughout is that life resists neat categorisation. Death is tragedy, but there is always hope for those left behind. Adversity can be overcome. Comedy can be black. On the flipside, trivialities can unnerve and linger.Maul is skilled enough to mix and match, to master the complex interplay between events and emotions, to do what a good writer should: show us what we are not expecting to find.”

“Love Michael Maul’s poetic Humor as well as his brevity in this little gem of a book.”