A book to read and savour and to dip into again and again and for sure to pass along to fellow travelers working for peace and justice.

The poems are simple and powerful and often stark and unblinking. Paley's head on wide opened look at war and poverty and sorrow is softened with the gift of beautiful paintings by Vera Williams.

"For George" (or in my case, my dad)

"What was left before crumbling

was sweetness in the maple leaf

in our friend George a brilliant

attentive sweetness

in the wild red maple leaf

before winter in our friend

George Dennison before death"

"People in My Family"

"In my family

people who are 82 are very different

from people who are 92

The 82-year old people grew up

The year was 1914

This is what they knew World War 1

War World War War

That's why when they speak to the grandchild

they say poor little one

The 92-year old people grew up

The year was 1905

They went to prison

They went into exile

They said ah soon

That's why when they speak to the grandchild

they say first there will be revolution

then there will be revolution then once more

then the earth itself will turn and turn

and cry out Oh I have been made sick

then you my little bud

will flower and save it."