From a sweeping narrative arc to intimate snapshots of daily life, Clay Vessels ambitiously explores the mystery of the demands and bonds of love across generations of a family. The litany of small, seemingly insignificant sacrifices made; the hope and courage of endurance in the face of fear and the inevitability of suffering and loss; and the fact that there is everything to gain in the way in which we pour ourselves out for others comes to life in these pages. There is a treasure that lies within us that is far beyond our ability to safeguard, keep, or even esteem properly. This narrative poem in three parts helps us to feel this mystery alive in our hearts as well as in our very bones.