Susan Trofimow is a writer based in Boston, MA. Her work has appeared in LUMINA, 3Elements Literary Review, Pretty Owl Poetry and others.

“Toward the End” came from a workshop taught by poet Kim Addonizio. Using Shinder’s end-words helped me to better understand the importance of letting language lead a poem—how this approach can offer unexpected connections. “In California” explores loss of a different sort, but one also beyond the speaker’s control.