Skin of Teeth asks us what happens when nobody hears your heartbreak? Where is home when you feel rootless and restless? Where can happiness be found?
The writing stems from the grit of a grimace, the wince of a face and is gilded with redemption and yearning. With the search for happiness at its core, Hughes is able to strip bare the meagre truth and flesh out the cruel beauty of love.
Equally dark and humorous, sometimes wry and lewd, this collection illuminates with a furious spirit and intimate curiosity.

'The tree of love in its fragile field twists after us.
From its warmed tilth we ploughing on,
Sow our harvest in spite of rancour.
With hope at its roots
Lonesome as stars pricking out from the unknown,
Happiness hounding us to possession,
Malice and bestialities shadow
Fueling our aggression,
The joyous blade of love
cutting a beauteous sliver of vulture light
Across the fragile field,
The sun sinking fire down, down,
Down into ancient grief’s revelry glade,
Mercy a quim of love, a deserted cabin glowing,
And glowering in the inviolable wilderness,
Each a believer so that another ring can be made.'
Happiness