Customer Reviews:

• "well-writen . . . enjoyable . . . a delightful treat for readers" - The Italian American Book Press

• "Theresa Hickey is an idealist in life and in poetry. She shares her humanity through poetry, in word and deed. All proceeds from her chapbooks will support area soup kitchens, abused women shelters, the arts, and other non profit organizations. That's one good reason to buy Ms. Hickey's chapbooks. Another incentive is the stunning poetry she writes.

Remembering people precious to her is a recurring theme throughout this book. "Old Country" memorializes the poet's grandfather. I quote one verse of this long, touching poem in excerpt:

      An early childhood memory
      was watching as he planted,
      beads of sweat seeping
      from the furrows
      of his temples,
      shoulders, neck –
      his suntanned face
      russet as the pears
      of his beloved fruit trees.

"Tea & Eucharist" is the poignant memory of time spent with her ill mother. Neither can easily express what the other means to her, and so they drink tea and cherish time together:

      Other nights, we affirmed
      the other's presence
      ushering in a more tranquil spirit –
      with quiet rising holier than our voices
      connecting us profoundly
      in ways we dared not speak.

Another long poem is "Soup Kitchen." The poet hopes to inspire compassion in her daughter by serving in the soup kitchen. Instead, she learns a hard truth about herself from observing her daughter with a disenfranchised woman, Dorothy:

      Dorothy, whose own children
      long ago disowned her,
      is exuberant to be
      engaged in conversation.
      I should be happy, too.
      My daughter
      has befriended the friendless.

This is a chapbook of exceptional poetry. Theresa Hickey shows us rare glimpses of remembered joy and stark moments of regret with honesty and dignity. Her work with words is beautiful and memorable." - Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review

• "Theresa's poetry, every one, touched my heart. Her style is extraordinarily readable. As available as prose. I think this book is a wonderful introduction to poetry for anyone, child or adult, who believes they don't like poetry. It will change their view forever. I also think it is a wonderful book to use to help others learn how to write poetry. I only wish there were more poems in the collection. I hope she comes out with another book soon." - Betsy Landau