Upon reading Muriel Rukeyser's latest volume of poems, upon going through The Gates, one feels silent, sad, instructed, grateful…. We all struggle with the sin of pride; Muriel Rukeyser has been blessed with less narcissism than most of us—especially remarkable in such an introspective, sensitive, and self-aware person, who has for so long been committed to telling others what crosses her mind. She is save from self-centeredness by a compassionate concern for others, all over the world, and by a wonderful capacity for self-mocking irony: "Anne Sexton the poet saying/ten days ago to that receptive friend, / the friend of the hand held camera: / 'Muriel is serene'. / Am I that in their sight?" And at another point: "I'd rather be Muriel / than be dead and be Ariel", an entire poem, and shorter than its title: "Not to be Printed / Not to be Said, / Not to be Thought...