[A] poetic tour-de-force. . . De Helen's poems refuse to obey the rules or use their inside voices. By turns pointed, acerbic, poignant, angry, and pensive, the author's poetic voice is always strong and palpable... Sandra de Helen and her poetry are a force to be reckoned with." ~Sandra Anfang, nationally acclaimed poet, teacher, and visual artist In The World's a Stage: Life in Five Acts, fourth collection in the Poetry for the New Millennium Series, Sandra de Helen offers engaging and hard-hitting poems spanning the length of a life from babyhood to old age. The poems leave a profound impact and will take readers on an unexpected rollercoaster into the ups and downs of many decades of life.