Second book by the housecleaner and winner of the Nicholas Roerich Prize, whose poems have been read a record 18 times by Garrison Keillor on The Writer’s Almanac. Getting Ready To Be Poor

My sister laughs, says she can eat Ramen noodles For lunch and dinner, instead of just for lunch. It’s no big deal, she’s been poor before.

No washing whites in hot. No deodorant, floss, Q-Tips, Kotex or Midol. One-ply toilet paper. No Kleenex. No cotton balls.

No new shoes. No espresso. No Red Bulls, or Taco Bell. No vacation, Lord knows, and no cash for the collection plate. But, she says, I can take on more cleaning jobs. I can do that.