In spite of new freedoms and new therapies, love between men and women is not easy. Elizabeth Elliott's fifth book of poetry has three parts: "First Love First Happiness", "In the Schools of Love", and "Love and Its Interruptions".

She writes, "I am too old to speak about First Love in today's world, but 60 years ago first love was about being unable to speak, about innocence and a kind of thrilled fear. It was not about choice so much as about commitment. Until divorce happened it couldn't happen. But a new freedom beckoned beyond the true sadness, actions were signed into a record and then - freedom is scratching at our eager door. Are we prepared for this freedom? NO. Do we learn? I guess." Eighteen poems have been culled from earlier books, 39 poems are new or never been published. Included is a new concept for poetry - just a word. Here you'll find insights written by the author behind the scenes for each poem. Elizabeth's poetry explores the human condition in our quests for power and truth, for persistence, justice and hope. On our need for individuality, a purpose, and for achieving our goals with courage and persistence. Her poems show us our innocence and our temptations, our gratitude and appreciation, and our freedom. Our struggle to overcome loss and death, evil and harm, war and conflict and to find love and joy with the healing power of our spirit and our psyche. And our capacity to play, to study nature, science, and time, to create art and beauty, to sense the paradox and to experience the transformation of our lives. Here is the poetry of life, and a life of poetry.