Constructed in the form of a memoir, these poems take on an emotional tone as the author details the story of her life. The collection is populated by her memories of childhood, courtships and marriage, family illness, children, and grandchildren. At its core is a woman struggling to deal with all the complexities of love and the difficulties of achieving compassion and tenderness in the face of adversity. Brave, honest, and beautiful, these poems shed new light on what it means to be human.

Maria Mazziotti Gillan is the founder and executive director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College-New Jersey. She has published eight books and is the editor of the award-winning Paterson Literary Review.