Davoren Hanna was born severely handicapped in 1975. His parents were lifelong participants in his struggle to become a writer. Much like the young Christy Moore in My Left Foot, Davoren succeeded over terrible odds, and published his first book, Not Common Speech, in 1990. He died at nineteen, in 1994. An Irish television documentary was made on his life and work. This book contains a selection of Davoren's poems, as well as a heartfelt memoir by his father.