The poet explains the origin of the poetry book's unusual title: A sure way to catch catfish and other bottom-feeders is to squeeze a ball of partially dried cow's blood around a hook. The blood dissolves slowly, spreading its tendrils of odor into the surrounding water. It's like the tight wad of blood relations out of which I keep flinging myself and my words, both to lure whatever is out there and to assure myself of how tightly I'm hooked to the center.