Summary

In “Compass,” the speaker likens “a book” to “a body” (47). She says her book is “full / Of ourselves,” a container for reflections on the past (47). The most difficult part of remembering and reflecting on loss is “giving it a name” (47). Pain can both divide and connect. Having compassion for one another is the best way to understand trauma.

In “Hephaestus,” the speaker reflects on past trauma, noting the importance of remembering “that / What happened to us / Happened through us” (49). Experiencing and surviving trauma makes the individual who she is.

In “Every Day We Are Learning,” the speaker notes the importance of having and practicing hope.

In “Cordage, or Atonement,” the speaker reflects on the way the pandemic affected people. In order to survive, everyone had to learn how to be alone. She considers the etymology...