The book leaves no doubt in the mind of the reader that she is hearing a distinctive voice. Keeping in mind of the reader that she is hearing a distinctive voice. Keeping in mind the history of persecution of the Armenians, it is surprising to find the poems mostly devoid of political gestures - instead a kind of spiritual intensity, a melancholy joy, as W N Herbert puts it in the foreword suffuses the poems. The suffering lurks under the surface and, in that sense, again, the notions (and sounds) of both breathing and whispering are essential to this collection.