Ros Barber?s second book forms a meditation on human loss; it is a more personal and autobiographical collection than her first, described by Neil Rollinson as `an honest, unflinching and hugely satisfying debut?. Sarah Law described her as `a "traditional" contemporary poet along the lines of Larkin? and it is Barber?s sure hand with rhyme and meter that gives the hard material of these poems (both personal losses and those experienced through others) their steady focus and makes them so readable. Throughout, the poetry remains strong, thoughtful and refreshing.Ros Barber was born in 1964 in Washington DC. She grew up in Colchester, studied Biology at the University of Sussex, and then English Literature and Philosophy with the Open University, while working as a computer programmer. Since 2000 she has worked as a freelance writer and creative writing tutor for the University of Sussex. She is married with four children and lives in Brighton.