"In poems whose language is as clear and straightforward as that of Williams or Reznikoff, Bill Zavatsky turns the floodlight of honesty onto himself, transforming by the very act of examination, his demons of anger, self-pity, loneliness, and regret. This is brave and mature work, capacious enough for elegy and humor."--Ron Padgett "Bill Zavatsky's poems are civilized novels of his life in the city, told at the speed of compassion and gentle humor. Reading them, I caught up with everything, including myself."--Andrei Codrescu "These remarkable poems have plenty of heart, muscle and mind: they refuse easy bondings, they test the limits of their own compassion. So much contemporary poetry seems tame, obscure or overly fussy compared to the robust humanity, independence and (finally, yes) wisdom of this intimitable voice."--Philip Lopate "Tiptoeing on the highwire of singing and crying--a lovely heartwrenching book."--Adrienne Rich