Issue #0

The Forbidden Poems

Plot

"Chronicling a journey of loss and mending, Becky Birtha's first collection of poetry exhibits the same strength of vision and richness of lanugage as her short stories in Lover's Choice. Beginning with poems about confronting racism and her empowerment as an African-American and lesbian-feminist, Birtha then explores the realm of personal grief at the loss of a longtime lover. Images of fruit and flower gardens, of plants that reseed themselves, suggest a way forward, and by the stunning section that closes the book, Birtha has confirmed her place as a poet of great emotional depth and power." --From back cover