In 'Empires,' John Balaban presents a poetic tapestry that intertwines the elegance and savagery of human history. Each poem is a voyage through time, surveying the juxtaposition of natural beauty and human-inflicted sorrow. From the ashes of the World Trade Center to George Washington’s valiant leap across the Potomac, and from the scars of Vietnam to the words of Romanian poets, Balaban threads narratives of resilience and hope. With eloquent elegy, he transcends history's brutal imprint, guiding us to see the undying human spirit amidst the empires' rise and fall.