Beginning with the ancient conquest of Alexander the Great, these poems trace a journey through grief, as the poet mourns a child who did not live to have his name and deeds celebrated. Resisting a neat linear narrative to grief, these poems explore a mother's quest for a meaningful life and even joy in the aftermath of great loss.

Elizabeth Schmermund is a poet and essayist. She is assistant professor in English at SUNY Old Westbury where she teaches literature, creative writing, and Greek mythology. She lives in New York with her family and her publications can be found at www.elizabethschmermund.com.