FIVE POETS began as a vision: What if five writers, two women and three men, who were something else professionally before they became writers-farmers, college reference librarians, psychotherapists, paralegals, and psychiatrists-wrote about their experiences with aging, illness, and mortality? And what if they came together to publish a book of poetry, which only two had done previously? This is the book of their fulfilled vision: ten poems each, reflecting striking individuality, poetic styles, and sensibilities. Many readers will say, "I could have written that " and for good reason: they write with empathy and understanding about the loss of parents, children, siblings, and friends. They understand the fears, regrets, and faltering competencies of aging. And they share surprising discoveries they have made about the oneness, compassion, and self-acceptance that has emerged from their aging and trials. You will appreciate the honesty and grit of these poems. They may move you to write your own stories or poems of what it has meant for you to age, about its pains and its often unexpected gifts.