Joyce Block (nee Bukaresky) was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. She was active in Habonim where she developed a strong love for the State of Israel. At the age of 14, she met the love of her life, Leon Block. All the love poems she ever wrote were inspired by him. She attended Hunter College High School, Hunter College, and Fordham University where she earned her Ph.D. Active in the Civil Rights Movement, her passion for social justice is evident in the section “Us and Them.” In her middle years, she met Leon again and they were married. They moved to Summerlin in Las Vegas, and finally to Aliante in North Las Vegas. Joyce’s adult children joined them. She taught English in the Clark County School District where her son, Jonathan Marcus, is an award-winning teacher. The loss of her beloved daughter, Beth, to drugs inspired the “Loss” section. The Blocks enjoy traveling the world whenever they can.