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Complex and subtle, this new collection of poetry takes its inspiration from the author's experience teaching poetry in prison. The effect of their severe, restrictive surroundings surfaces in the somber and sometimes violent verses that delve into the emotional lives of the offenders and their victims. In spite of the solemn subject matter, there is still humor and an adroit irony in the lines, reflecting the humanity of the prisoners and the light that can still be found in a dark place. Additionally, the book includes the poet's paean to his bad back, several pieces inspired by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and a long work about a Soviet serial murderer.