"This is a masterful collection of... mainly new works that finds the poet at the height of his powers of observation and thought, with his lyrical spirit infusing grace and music into the narrative modes he has adopted. The studied, charming, and well-wrought poems that were the early trademarks of his Atenean days have evolved mightily and matured to now contain a kind of warm elegance, clarity, and care in his lines and images, and an unflinching sort of poetic thinking that has proven to be sharp and supple enough to confront and take on the harsh and violent realities of contemporary life. This kind of poetic realism refracted in a deeply feeling and responsive intelligence is evident throughout the collection and is its main source of poetic power. The international settings of many poems help imbue the poem with a more expansive and global feel that actually heightens the sense of urgency and the hurt humanity in many of the poems in this collection. Jim Pascual Agustin is one poet who had to leave in order to find himself."

• Ricardo de Ungria, poet and critic Sample poems are available at Scrib.com and at http://www.alientoanyskin.wordpress.com. Online orders via Mary Martin Booksellers - http://www.marymartin.com/web/SearchA... and Kabayan Central - http://www.kabayancentral.com/book/us... or contact the publisher ustph.info@gmail.com or via the Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/USTPublishin...