"In this striking memoir-part poetry, part narrative-Ruth

Ticktin plumbs the geography of a childhood spent in the Midwest

and her consequent trajectory to the Northeast, all the while giving

a human face to key points and developments in U.S. history. In such

pieces as 'Lines from Letters' and 'From Those Who Came Before

Us, ' she maps what it meant then and what it means now to be female

and to stand for what is just. Ticktin brings to the page not only her

skills as a poet but her unique background as a long-time ESL teacher.

Her deft use of word play and rhythm stand out."

-Naomi Ayala, author of three books of poetry with contributions

in numerous anthologies; is an education consultant, translator, and

teacher in Washington DC