When poet Dave Morrison was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer he reacted the only way he knew how; by writing poems. "In these honest and courageous poems, Morrison shares his turbulent journey through the landscape of cancer, its painful paths and nearly unclimbable hills, its tremendous skies with bright stars of gratitude. These poems encompass a geography of emotion, from self-deprecation and moments of despair, to humor, love, and resilience. Morrison describes the beginning of illness, the long days "where each breath is a/ noticeable event," the measurement and exhaustion of pain, the beautiful allure of morphine. This collection reminds us that life's brutal blows are meant to help us learn "important lessons about what/ is real and good and valuable," and to sing "a song of thanks/ as loud as a/ saxophone." -Ellen Taylor, author of Floating . This second edition contains additional poems and extended author notes.