Black was the Rose

Maria Dudek-Grzebien's new volume of poetry, Black Was the Rose, tells the uniquely moving story of Ika, a Polish emigre who is at once strong and vulnerable, careful and carefree. Like many emigrants, Ika has had her share of misfortunes and sadness. But Ika, being Ika, does not give up. For example, Ika knows what it feels like to wear secondhand clothes and to have a to run a tight budget in order to survive. And she quickly masters the essentials she needs to learn in order to take care of herself.

Ika loses at love, painfully, but she is brave and resilient and never without hope. Case in point: When she falls and breaks her wrist, Ika perseveres through the agonized night, waiting patiently for hours for the doctor to care for her, and then, incredibly, managing to find joy in the help she receives. Similarly, when her husband Jack is stubborn she manages to change his mind and is relieved when they've resolved their argument. A true force of nature, Ika makes us realize that as long as one perseveres, anything is possible.