Susan E Wagner

Unmuted Susan E Wagner

Unmuted: Voices on the Edge is a powerful debut collection by Susan E. Wagner. In poetry and prose, she gives voice to families in crises, children in foster care, the homeless and the mentally ill -- all marginalized individuals in our society. The collection tackles their lives, fears and frustrations and ultimately asks you to understand and accept them with the dignity and respect they deserve. The world is often cruel. Mental illness and family disintegration can throw people into systems already overwhelmed and underfunded. This can make their world unbearable. People will lash out. They will hurt others and themselves. Children, who learn what they see around them, can be crushed. We need to understand and then develop the will to change the lives of those on the edge. They are in our communities, they are our neighbors. They deserve our help."I hope to contribute, in some small way, to help people see the humanity inside our marginalized populations. These members of our communities need our support and understanding. Do not think for a second the marginalized do not see others turn away or laugh at them. They see and they are hurt, just like anyone else would be, and that rejection adds to their pain." - Susan E. Wagner" . . . for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members."- Pearl S. Buck, My Several Worlds