Rehearsal

In her poignant new collection Rehearsal poet Irene Willis gifts us with a remarkable discovery--that to embrace the truths of dying is to celebrate life. In clear precise language Willis enables us to share the couples deep love shining through details of their days to know that no matter ones age the moment of death surprises. The books second section deals with the after time as in the remarkable poem titled Hers when she started to own her own life--that the loneliness of widowhood brings with it the strengths of independence. Blended in are poems of vivid childhood experience her mothers aging time exchanges with other poets. To read these poems by Irene Willis is to have ones own life enriched by her clarity of vision her voice of wisdom and courage. --Charlotte Mandel author of To Be The DaylightEach passing year of life each new wrinkle of the skin each hesitation of limbs and above all each loss of a loved one is a preparation for what awaits us at the end of our lives journeys. Nonetheless the sojourn brings us glimpse of great joy pride musing thrill the pleasure of efficacy lust and yes also sadness defeat shame regret and remorse. Irene Willis offers us lexical snapshots taken along this bittersweet highway and does so with great eloquence and dignity.Salman Akhtar Author of Freshness of the Child (2018)