Bussey holds a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a bachelor's degree in English literature. She is an independent writer specializing in literature. In the following essay, she examines each literary allusion made in Sajé's poem as a way to explore new levels of meaning.

Sajé's second poetry collection, Bend, includes the poem “The Art of the Novel.” In this poem, a literary scholar describes her relationship with literature and the fictional heroines of classic novels. The relationships are described in terms that reflect a very personal connection to these characters and their stories, but the speaker ultimately turns away from them so that she can see what story life has in store for her. Because the speaker's life has been so steeped in literature, it is not surprising that she introduces numerous literary allusions throughout the poem. It is also not surprising...