Eve

by Annie Finch

Though Eve may be seen as a symbol of the demonization of women, she shares many characteristics with the ancient mother-goddesses worldwide from whom her story derives. Like her predecessors, Eve brought both death and life to humanity. In some Judeo-Christian legends, she also persuaded God to allow humans to be resurrected. Annie Finch's book of poems reveals an original and unforgettable poetic voice. Finch's poems have a mysterious, musical, and passionate elegance, the work of a highly skilled and innovative poet. The different genres in Eve include a lyric sequence on ancient goddesses, a literary parody, a protest poem, and an original myth. Finch, whose work as a critic and anthologist is expanding the boundaries of new formalist poetry, presents a wide diversity of poems in this impressively crafted book. Her virtuosity encompasses traditional European and classical forms as well as accentual chant form and haunting falling rhythms. This collection heralds Annie Finch as a poet of grace as well as style, verve as well as form.

Genres: Poetry

59 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

About the author

Annie Finch is the author of six books of poetry, including Spells: New and Selected Poems, The Poetry Witch Little Book of Spells, Calendars and Eve (both finalists for the National Poetry Series), and the verse play Among the Goddesses: An Epic Libretto in Seven Dreams (Sarasvati Award, 2012). Her poems have appeared onstage at Carnegie Hall and in The Penguin Book of Twentieth-Century American Poetry. Her other works include poetry translation, poetics, poetry anthologies, and a poetry textbook. She is also the editor of Choice Words: Writers on Abortion (Haymarket Books, 2020). Annie Finch holds a Ph.D from Stanford, served for a decade as Director of the Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing, and has lectured on poetry at Berkeley, Toronto, Harvard, and Oxford. In 2010 she was awarded the Robert Fitzgerald Award for her lifetime contribution to the art and craft of Versification. Finch has collaborated on poetic ritual theater productions with artists in theater, dance, and music and has performed as Poetry Witch on three continents. She teaches poetry and magic at PoetryWitchCommunity.org. 

“My poems harness the magically diverse and deeply rooted craft of poetic rhythms and forms. Like spells, they enjoy being spoken aloud three times." —Annie Finch

Annie on Twitter @poetrywitch
Annie on Instagram @thepoetrywitch

Annie connects with readers and facilitates seasonal rituals and classes in poetry and meter in her online community,
PoetryWitchCommunity.org, open to all who identify as women or gender-nonconforming.

Want more info? Updates, videos, poems, spells, spellsletter signup, and more at anniefinch.net

Blessings to all my beautiful readers!

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my effort this year to read more poetry. This collection focuses on female creation stories and goddesses from different cultures/traditions. I enjoyed this collection, but didn't love it. None of the poems made me want to drag someone in to hear the poem read aloud. Still, as a whole, the collection was quietly powerful and I was left with a feeling that I'd touched on some deep thoughts on feminine view. Just what I needed in the days after hearing that the Supreme Court is very likely overturning Roe v. Wade.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became interested in reading more of Annie Finch’s work after coming upon her interview in the Winter 2023 issue of Rattle . Eve (1997), her first nationally published collection of poetry, did not disappoint. Finch makes expert use of meter and I loved reading the poems aloud to get the full effect.

Some quotes:
"...This room
spins on its murals, dragging her vision past
heads bowed toward books whose turning pages hide
truth with each tiny rustle. Teachers whom
our words depend on taunt her with their vast
ennobled pain; we read on by their side."
(p. 10, "Great Reading Room Murals")
*
"She will stop to hold this moment near,
and drop the pitcher, and betray Vermeer."
(p. 22, "Still Life)
*
"just try to stay alert. You'll never know
exactly who is coming up behind you,
but the sudden movement of pedestrians
will finally, of course, be what disarms you."
(p. 24, "In Cities, Be Alert")
*
"Beside the long hedge on my parents' drive,
where the gravel waited daily for their tires
to crunch it open..."
(p. 29, "Inside the Violet")
*
"The Grave's not just the body's curse;
no skeleton can pen a verse!
So while this numbered World we see,
let's sweeten Time with poetry,
and Time, in turn, may sweeten Love
and give us time our love to prove."
(p. 41, "Coy Mistress")
*

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Rhiannon
Running in Church
No Snake
Zaraf’s Star
Spider Woman
Lucid Waking
My Raptor
Great Reading Room Murals
The Door
Inanna
The Last Mermother
Daughter
Strangers
Westminster
Coatlique
Still Life
The Circled Sand
In Cities, Be Alert
Insect
Three Generations of Secrets
Brigid
Sapphics for Patience
Inside the Violet
Pearl
Rain Birth
Nut
Frozen In
The Garden
Another Reluctance
Tribute
Aphrodite
Courtship
Coy Mistress
Being a Constellation
Walk With Me
Changing Woman
Ancestor
Gulf War and Child: A Curse
Thanksgiving
The Wish for Eyes
Eve
Encounter
Samhain
Diving Past Violets


**


[Book covers of Eve]

Citation:
Finch, A. (1997). Eve. Story Line Press. https://anniefinch.com/eve

Title: Eve
Author(s): Annie Finch
Year: 1997
Genre: Poetry collection
Page count: 59 pages
Date(s) read: 2/24/24 - 2/25/24
Book #53 in 2024
**

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quietly powerful collection of poems in various forms that explore female realities and commonalities throughout many cultures.

[Benjamin]

Pretty sure I read this, have no idea what I thought of it at the time. Probably should re-read again for a fresh perspective.

[Lindsay Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some beautiful imagery and interesting use of rhyme.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild, stunning, rewarding poetry ... An unforgettable, original, and impressive anthology from a highly skilled, innovative, and graced poet.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong collection that reminded me to re-appreciate form.

[Mills College Library]

811.54 F4921e 1997

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been devouring poetry books from my library these past few days.