I had only read one of Rich’s poems and one of her essays, and knew her mainly through her association with Audre Lorde, so when I came across The Dream of a Common Language at the library, I decided it was finally time to read it. I’m glad that I did. These poems are quietly courageous, rich in imagery and satisfying to read aloud. At times I ended up trying not to cry while reading them on my breaks at work. There’s definitely something to be said for the serendipity of the right book at the right time.