The concise, almost cold nature of these poems, and the speaker's persona, is so stark, it mimics our very own political landscape, in all its deeply unsettling and troubling ways. In this way, these poems could not be more important, or come at a better time. Demaree captures the frightening loss of freedom and stiff standards we face as a culture right now, especially with lines like "They want your name. They want to know why you make love to your wife on Sunday." I am better for having read this collection. -Joanna C. Valente, author of Marys of the Sea