These poems traverse the realms of art, horticulture, history, and medicine, excavating our sensual world to find meaning. From Eve's out-held hand to Madame Roentgen's ring-clad hand x-ray, these poems seek understanding through the senses and preservation through the witnessing of small acts. The poet's ability to enter into the experience of others than herself, and to identify interesting and unjustly neglected lives, gives these poems a rich sense of perspective and a broad appeal.