Michael Hogan's lifetime friendship with many authors, including three Nobel Prize laureates, was no accident. Respected for his own work and appreciated for his many reviews of their own books, other writers found him to be a generous colleague and astute critic. His students (and now we as readers) are the lucky inheritors of those fortunate relationships. As a former school head, I am highly appreciative of his gifts to this and previous generation. Robert J. Trent, former director general, American School Foundation of Guadalajara, A.C.

Hogan's enthusiasm is contagious, and his intellectual curiosity creates an atmosphere of joy and wonder in the classroom. He truly loves his students and has taught with remarkable success under very difficult circumstances and in a variety of alternative program as well as in the traditional classroom. He is an inspiring presence in education abroad. Richard Shelton, Regents Professor, University of Arizona

Volunteer teachers in prison are rare and usually last only a short time before they are discouraged or forced by the demands of time and finances to cut short their service. Michael Hogan not only taught these classes off and on for years but encouraged other writers of merit with national reputations to join him. His work resulted in a lower recidivism for the participants, as well as providing a valuable emotional outlet. Harold Caldwell, former warden, Arizona State Prison, Florence.

Michael Hogan is a fine writer, and an incredible brave and tenacious man. Charles Fair, American Poetry Review.

Active poetry-in-the-schools in four states, conducting workshops in prisons throughout the nation, on Indian reservations, and in colleges and universities, Hogan was a phenomenon. He also developed meaningful relationships with a many significant American poets, many of which are chronicled here. On several occasions, we co-taught workshops and I was able to observe how engaged and effective he was, truly reaching every sort of student he interacted with, including those from Hispanic communities- never judging or setting himself above anyone, but always drawing out their best. Now in semi-retirement he shares some best teaching strategies and life hacks, from the finest writers of the 20^th century. Joseph Bruchac, founder and editor, the Greenfield Review.

Michael Hogan puts his hand on the readers' shoulders and like an Irish pal from County Kerry, slowly walks us homeward. Along the way, we stop to listen to the wisdom of the poets and writers we've come to love. Seamus Heaney, Naomi Shihab Nye, William Stafford, Jane Hirshfield, Tess Gallagher. How wonderful to encounter them again in these pages with this gracious and unassuming narrator in the background! Henry McCarthy, host of Poets and Writers WEHC 90.7