This Afterlife

Discover the timeless precision and fierce wit of A. E. Stallings's poetry in this stunning selection from her four acclaimed collections.

This Afterlife: Selected Poems brings together the best of A. E. Stallings's work from Archaic Smile, Hapax, Olives, and Like, along with a lagniappe of additional poems. Themes and characters recur throughout, engaging in a complex interplay of harmony, dissonance, and counterpoint across years and experiences. The Underworld, the Afterlife, ancient history, and the archaeology of the present all resonate with each other in Stallings's masterful verse.

Many of these poems unfold in the mytho-domestic sphere, as seen through the eyes of Penelope, Pandora, Alice in Wonderland, or the poet herself. Stallings's fascination with Greek mythology is heightened by her chosen home of Greece, where contemporary crises and ancient history constantly intersect. Her technical prowess shines in traditional forms, inventive rhyme schemes, supple free verse, and metaphysical conceits, creating poetry that is both melancholy and wise, showcasing a precision that will stand the test of time.