Don't Send Me Roses is a collection of poems, some formal, some free, which follow a relationship from its giddy, embryonic beginning through what we often call the honeymoon period. Then they proceed into more exacting challenges as everyday reality intrudes. The emotional implications of such a voyage are easily seen in their entirety. This poetry might seem somewhat demanding for those uninitiated in the ways of the heart, but is decidedly appropriate for the brave and hopeful. The reader is left with a sense of guarded optimism, along with the poet's audacious reminder about the importance of working things out together if the relationship is expected to last.