The title poem of this collection is set in Murano, home to the Venetian glass-making industry. The alchemical processes of mirror-making, its 'furnaces and transubstantiations, / amalgams of tin and quicksilver' become a guiding metaphor for the poet. Cityscapes are haunted by memories both personal and historic.

The title poem on this collection of poetry was written after a visit to Murano, home to the famous Venetian glassmaking industry. The alchemical processes of mirror making become a guiding metaphor for the poet's explorations. This theme of enticing reflections helps elucidate the subjects of the book, most notably in the series of poems imagining the life of her grandfather, who in his time in the British Royal Air Force lived in India, China, and Iraq. Most of the poems are inspired by the challenges of travel and the need to undermine one's own expectations. They challenge voices of authority and discover strange tales in strange lands.