Curtis L. Crisler and Kevin McKelvey’s intent in this collection is to explore working class roots in urban cities, small towns, and rural townships in Indiana. Crisler was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, and after graduating high school, moved to Fort Wayne to work in factories. McKelvey was born and raised near Lebanon, Indiana, and spent his childhood and young adulthood working in gardening, farming, and carpentry. Now, Crisler teaches at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, and McKelvey teaches writing at University of Indianapolis.

In the odd sections, they alternate poems, and in the second section, Crisler takes a solo with ten poems, and McKelvey offers ten of his own in the fourth section. The book’s general arc traces from childhood to teenage years into early adulthood and maturity. The differing voices and styles spark interplay between the poems, and more importantly, a dialogue about race, class, relationships, and urban and rural issues in Indiana and the greater Midwest.

About the poets