Rehabilitation Center

The rehabilitation center setting appears in the poems "Dear Peter" and "Reasons for Staying." While in rehab, the speaker hopes that he is reaching a turning point in his life. He wants to be and do better. In "Dear Peter," while in the center, he thinks about and silently speaks to Peter. He tries to stay close to his partner by wearing his socks and by sharing observations from the space with his partner. In "Reasons for Staying," the speaker alludes to his former time in the center. He cites his revelations while in rehab as a reason to remain in his New England home town.

New England

Allusions to New England recur throughout the novel. Although the speaker never identifies the exact state or town of this New England location, the reader understands that this is the region in which he grew up. He often attends...