Super Short Summary

Life Under Water by Maura Dooley is a collection of poems that employs the metaphor of water to explore human emotions, politics, social issues, and the mysteries of life and death. The collection includes notable poems such as "The Elevator," which narrates a chance encounter with Leonard Cohen, and "Remark," which reflects on a moment of happiness shared with a lover. The poem "The 1984 Perspective" addresses the miner's strike at Orgreave, while the centerpiece "The Source" celebrates the essential and multifaceted nature of water. The collection touches on themes of violence and historical trauma.