"Dickman's book moves with careful intensity as it confidently illuminates buried, contemporary suffering."--Publishers Weekly The poems in Michael Dickman's energized debut document the bright desires and all-too-common sufferings of modern times: the churn of domestic violence, spiritual longing, drug abuse, and the impossible expectations fathers have for their sons. In a poem that references heroin and "scary parents," Dickman reminds us that "Still there is a lot to pray to on earth." Dickman is a poet to watch. You can go blind, waiting Unbelievable quietexcept for their soundings Moving the sea around Unbelievable quiet inside you, as they changethe face of water The only other time I felt this still was watching Leif shoot up when we were twelve Sunlight all over his face breakingthe surface of somethingI couldn't see You can wait yourwhole life Michael Dickman was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and began writing poems "after accidentally reading a Neruda ode." His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, and The American Poetry Review.