In 'Playlist for the Apocalypse,' Rita Dove explores the moral uncertainties shaped by global and personal turmoil. Spanning history and the present, Dove's verses touch on the establishment of the first Jewish ghetto, the rise of movements like Black Lives Matter, and the shadow of WWII. This is interlaced with the poet's own struggle against chronic illness, encapsulated in the 'Little Book of Woe.' Through a range of voices and vivid imagery, Dove creates an orchestra of emotional resonance, urging listeners to find the songs woven into the fabric of our lives.