“Alan Caldwell’s The Only Verse is a compelling collection of poetry that takes us to the devastating edge of human vulnerability, where we can’t outrun the childhood nightmare no matter how hard we try. It is the one that creeps in and out of our grown-up selves, knocking on our hearts and threatening our quest for a safe passage through life. While each poem is a brave stand-alone, together they tell a story. They lean on each other to stand tall, to tell the ultimate truth of loss and grief, and to offer the ultimate hope for self-love.” — Helen Stine , author of the award winning novel The Truthful Story