DescriptionMany of these poems were written and revised in my time as a student in the MFA program. My aim was to not only explore language, image, and narrative as a way to explore human psychology and relationships, but also to make arguments about the historical implications of violence and death. In my view, every generation of humans feel they are witnessing the end of history. Ultimately, fascination with apocalypse is narcissistic. Every human being feels the unique quality of their own existence, making every death, in a sense, an apocalypse. It is my desire that this collection speaks not only to the human fascination with the end of the world, but also the frailties of the heart that have existed with all people in all times. I would like to thank Lisa Zeidner, Joe Barbarese, Rachel Hadas, Darcy Cummings, Elaine Tarranova, Eric Pankey, and Brian Brodeur for the all the help they have given me in putting this thesis together.