In her poignant debut collection, Linnea Harper offers a raw and lyrical exploration of a mother's journey through the complexities of her son's addiction and estrangement. Spanning
three decades, these poems bridge the gap between the vibrant California counterculture of the 1960s and the harrowing reality of a child's descent into homelessness and substance abuse. Harper navigates the turbulent waters of a chronic illness and the heavy silence of her son's absence with a spirit of radical acceptance, transforming profound grief into a testament to resilience. Both courageous and infused with humility, these poems serve as a memorial to haunting memories, a beacon for anyone seeking light within the shadows of a broken family, and an introductory education for those not yet affected by a loved one's addiction. This epidemic is not over. We should listen.