Citizen Poet

A landmark volume of essays from Irelands leading feminist poet (New York Times Book Review) that celebrates a transformative vision of womanhood, nation, and poetry.Eavan Boland was a trailblazing poet, critic, teacher, and essayist. Carving a path for the next generation, she broke open the male-dominated canon of Irish literature and mapped her poetic journey through the contours of life as a mother, daughter, and citizen. This generous and wise volume contains essays selected from Object Lessons (1995) and A Journey with Two Maps (2011); later writings addressing the changing nature of poetry; and a draft of a reflective memoir called Daughter, on which Boland was working at the time of her death.A compelling blend of memoir, analysis, and argument, Citizen Poet traces the arc of Bolands pioneering view of nationhood through the lens of womanhood.