Balancing heart-intelligent intimacy and surprising humor, the poems in Ellen Bass's Mules of Love illuminate the essential dynamics of our lives: family, community, sexual love, joy, loss, religion and death. The poems also explore the darker aspects of humanity-personal, cultural, historical and environmental violence-all of which are handled with compassion and grace. Bass's poetic gift is her ability to commiserate with others afflicted by similar hungers and grief. Her poem "Insomnia" concludes: "may something/ comfort you-a mockingbird, a breeze, rain/ on the roof, Chopin's Nocturnes, the thought/ of your child's birth, a kiss, / or even me-in my chilly kitchen/ with my coat on-thinking of you. "Marketing Plans: • National advertising • National media campaign • Advance reader copies • Course adoption mailing… Author Tour: • Berkeley • Boston • Minneapolis • San Francisco • Santa Cruz
