"Brutal yet gorgeous."—Elaine Terranova, author of Rinse
"There is searing truth in these enthralling poems."—Eleanor Wilner, author of Gone to Earth
Description
How Can I Say it Was Not Enough? is a generous book. Let’s say for argument’s sake that poetry readers are, even in the twenty-first century, eager to find community on the page. The generosity I’m describing must always remain invitational. If the body is unreliable, if abjection remains a lifelong struggle, then the imagination should of necessity suggest something beyond mere confession. Empathetic visions are what’s called for in every aspect of life. Kaier’s poems deliver.
About the Author
Anne Kaier’s memoir, They Said I Couldn’t Have a Love Life, was a finalist for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs’ 2024 Sue William Silverman Prize. Her essays have appeared widely in venues such as The Kenyon Review, 1966 Journal, Alaska Quarterly Review, and the anthology About Us: Essays from the Disability Series of The New York Times. Her poems have appeared in several anthologies including the 2012 ALA Notable Book Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability.
June 2025