I picked up "Vigil" because I'm fond of poetry; however, I also picked it up because I am taking certification coursework to become a hospice chaplain. Like A.J. Land, I am amazed to love people for a living, which is a gift that keeps giving!

"Vigil" is priceless and precise, not vague, filled with insight—truth spoken in cadence, measured just right. There is resignation and acceptance when dying, a longing to contribute until the body insists on rest.

"Vigil" removes the fear of dying and equally shares people's avoidance. Some don't want to get too close; they want to avert their eyes, but, for A.J. Land and I, we want to hold the dying ones' hands, listen, take in, absorb, and be present so no one dies alone.

This slim volume of poetry is filled with warmth, depth, hard truths, and hope. There's more to life than our bodies; all questions will be answered beyond death's door. Sometimes, in the eyes of those actively passing away, you can see life to come, clear as day, beyond the veil that shields us.

As this book's last line(s) state, a last breath is as "natural and holy as the first." We need not fear or avoid the elderly; those with dementia are still worthy of our care; it is best to listen, learn, honor, and cherish the grey-haired among us. They lit the world for us and light the way still.

"Vigil" has depth. It's a book to return to again and again. It's a gift for those in the process of dying, a gift for those watching a loved one pass away. It's a gift for those in the height of their "glory days" and an excellent reminder to number our days, too. It's a book to inspire and encourage others to sit or stand beside the bedside of those passing away. To bear witness and to hold a hand. To talk, watch, listen; to be still and know. Truths are revealed, regrets are laid bare, and life wound down to a place where there's no longer anything to hide or fear. Acceptance leads to peace, and resolutions are found so that to pass is not a burden anyone carries alone.

This book of poetry is an honor to read: one woman's journey, everyone's truth. Words beyond compare that befit a topic of transitions, ever afters, and things to come. Not faith-filled or religious, and yet downright glorious! A five-star rating (I wish I could give ten.) Thank you, A.J. Land, for sitting "vigil" and inviting us to sit beside you, holding space for others to do the same.