A collection of poems that Updike wrote during the last seven years of his life and put together only weeks before he died for this, his final book. The opening sequence, "Endpoint, " is made up of a series of connected poems written on the occasions of his recent birthdays and culminates in his confrontation with his final illness. For Updike, the writing of poetry was always a special joy, and this final collection is an eloquent and moving testament to the life of this extraordinary writer.--From publisher description.