Clashes occur both in relationships and between countries, and the poems ring the change on ‘amour and attack’ as he writes about marriage, being a parent, the cold wars and cultural exchange. A series of pastoral poems refract the months of a year while the collection confirms its author as an adept of the concise idea, a new directness of expression and a singing line.

In Poetry Review Michael Hulse commended Justin Quinn’s ‘polished, urbane manner that owes something to Brodsky, its great attraction as poetry lies in the lithe lyric gift.’ and remarked on ‘, the density Quinn commands even at his seeming simplest, light in its touch, engaging in tone, and civilized in stance.’