In "Backwards Days," Stuart Dischell crafts a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary through his unique lyrical prowess and imaginative storytelling. This collection, his fourth, takes the reader on a journey through the vicissitudes of the human experience, marked by moments of intense emotion and restless desire. Dischell's poems stand out for their sly humor, inventiveness, and a certain exuberance that belies the often dark themes they explore. From the depths of a broken heart to the grim realities that life can present, his words manage to find hope and buoyancy, inviting us to see the world from a perspective that is at once novel and deeply resonant. "Backwards Days" is imbued with a musicality and an emotional intensity that captures the elusive movements of time, the physical world, and the inner workings of the heart. Dischell navigates through both tangible landscapes and the landscapes of the psyche with a deft touch, presenting dark parables and vibrant narratives that together form a mosaic of human life. Each poem is a step on a path towards an understanding that is forever just out of reach, yet always compelling. With "Backwards Days," Dischell confirms his status as a master of contemporary poetry, offering readers a collection that is as thought-provoking as it is aesthetically pleasing.