There’s a generosity and depth of spirit to the poems in Richard Baldo’s debut collection. His is a lifetime of stories, both collective and deeply personal. Though many of these poems are painful and sharply tragic, Baldo has a careful ear tuned over decades of listening and trying to understand that allows him to find luminous moments in the most unexpected situations. As the title suggests, this is a book that reminds us learning is an ongoing treacherous process, and I’m grateful to have this fine poet as a guide.
–Jared Stanley, Assistant Professor University of Nevada, Reno. Author of Tough, Ears