A bit overbearing (when not mawkish) is the sign of this poetry. It is not up to the best of what Graham can do. Her writing is always weighty, and in that mode can work wonders but not-- for the most part-- here. I'm afraid reputation has taken her professional reviewers into praises unwarranted and undeserved. The metaphysics doesn't reach; the reality doesn't call; the experiences don't tell-- the poetry doesn't work. We need the best of poetry for our lives, and with the devestation of the poetic landscape by the langpo people and the New York School and the midwestern inability to go beyond paltry, it is unfortunate that Graham has not come through for us in this book.