Because

“This deeply personal and profound poem may be the work of memory but its force is built from within our moment—a force enhanced through a structure of anaphora and a percussive length of line that insists on being heard.” - Stanley Plumly, author of Against Sunset

“[Because] is a rare and remarkable text. Although it deals unswervingly with abuse, violations of trust and the deeply damaging effect of both of these, it is also literary, powerful and consoling…A deeply achieved record of human truth, earned at cost and beautifully expressed.” - Eavan Boland

“[A] disturbing, memorably and superbly handled book-length narrative poem…[Mensch] has an ear, he’s thoughtful, he’s subtle where subtle makes sense.” - Stephanie Burt, author of The Poem Is You

“This book tore me apart: it is riveting, beautiful, and quietly devastating. Mensch is a gifted and unflinching poet, and he has one hell of a story to tell.” - Patrick Phillips, author of Blood at the Root and Elegy for a Broken Machine

“Unrelentingly obsessive…an achievement of sustained attention and imagination.” - Michael Collier, author of Dark Wild Realm