Declaration of thanks:
—to Michelle Cliff,
closest and most demanding interlocutor
from her archipelago of language
—to Suzanne Gardinier,
whose belief and critiques have made this
a stronger book
—to Frances Goldin,
for keeping the faith and acting on it
—to Steven Barclay,
for comradeship beyond the call
—to the Lannan Foundation,
for manifold vision and generosity