"Mary Makofske’s big-heartedness is matched only by the capaciousness of her imagination—and surely the two are twinned—her ability to imagine her way into the experiences and perceptions of so many and such different others—a suicide bomber, an enslaved woman, a night guard at a concentration camp among them—as vividly as she renders her own daily and deeply personal experiences. If there are no angels, there are at least poets like Makofske,...

It is impossible to read Mary Makofske's collection without being dazzled by her voracious appetite for life. She is an observer, a reporter, a guide, a participant. Family, photos, art, childhood, war, the neighborhood with its trees and gardens--all grist for this poet's pen. Makofske not only devours life but also practices her craft with the skill of someone who knows what she's doing. While journeying through this collection, readers will be...