Solving for X reveals a poet, image by dazzling image, trying to solve the old equation of what makes a life worth living. Textured and quirky in the best way, these poems of lovers, family, and the natural world are full of the beauty of a life well-lived, with all the questions still open.

Catherine Anderson

The Work of Hands

In much of Solving for X, Maryfrances Wagner focuses on memory, childhood to recent-without the sticky lacquer of nostalgia. In lines that are fresh, precise, and musical, her eye for evocative detail includes the dark as well as the light. She often discovers "fabulous realities" within the commonplace. Her empathy, with plants and animals as well as people, keeps her vision free of self-absorption-a refreshing turn from a current trend of poets obsessing on their victimhood. And these poems invite the reader in rather than coyly turning their backs. It's an invitation that offers considerable rewards.

William Trowbridge, author of Call Me Fool

Nietzsche famously said, "The devil is in the details." If that's true, move over Mephisto. In Maryfrances Wagner's new book, Solving for X, truth too lies in the details, and Wagner is an expert at telling truth. Honest and unblinking, she tells stories so real they come alive on the page. So clear her vision, so close to the bone, we know for sure we are not among the angelic orders with their harps and halos. There's too much toughness here, too much down-to-earth life, fierce, raw, and uncompromising. A devilishly good read.

Alice Friman, author of Blood Weather



"I'm from red sauce, garlic, and fig trees," writes Maryfrances Wagner. An Italian world re-created in Kansas City is her childhood, and this informs her rich poetry filled with wry humor and wisdom. She tells stories, describes recipes, weddings, wine club, and family card games. The poet amplifies attractive and accessible moments with original, surprising language. She blends story and song masterfully. Solving for X might be my favorite book from this talented writer-so far!

Denise Low, 2007-09 Kansas Poet Laureate, winner Red Mountain Press Editor's Choice Award