AFTER HOUSES is a profound reflection on homelessness. In her candid and powerful poetry, Claire Millikin delves into the experience of being homeless and the deep yearning for houses-places that symbolize safety and comfort. The poems traverse the American landscape, moving between the South and North, and from childhood to adulthood, always reaching for a home that remains just out of grasp. Throughout the collection, Millikin weaves in elements from her personal and family history, classical mythology, and architectural theory to create a poetry that fosters empathy, addressing the places where individuals often feel lost in America. AFTER HOUSES resonates with the voices of girls who have struggled to survive but continue to endure, embodying the resilience that the French poet, Arthur Rimbaud, emphasizes in his insistence on remaining whole through words.