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Stallings brings classical intelligence to contemporary life, writing poems that are witty, precise, and formally accomplished. The collection’s title hints at its fascination with simile and comparison—how we try to make meaning by linking unlike things. Stallings’ craft is virtuosic, but never cold; her poems often carry genuine warmth and wonder. She moves easily between mythic reference and modern observation, making ancient stories feel newly relevant. The language is polished and musical, with lines that satisfy at the level of sound. Humor appears frequently, often sharpened by philosophical bite. The poems explore family, time, history, and the small absurdities of daily life. Stallings’ formal control gives the collection a steady elegance, even when the subject turns dark or uncertain. Reading it feels like being guided by a mind that sees patterns everywhere—and delights in them. A smart, rewarding collection for readers who love poetry that thinks as it sings.