I Must Be Living Twice gathers four decades of Eileen Myles’s groundbreaking poetry, offering both a sweeping retrospective and a collection of new work. From the gritty streets of New York City to the intimate corners of memory and desire, these poems are raw, witty, and full of life.
Myles’s voice is unmistakable—confessional, political, playful, and unapologetically queer. The poems move effortlessly between short, punchy lines and longer narrative forms, touching on love, longing, art, class, and the constant act of becoming. With clarity and edge, Myles challenges poetic convention while honoring the everyday rhythms of speech and thought.
This collection is more than a greatest hits—it’s a living record of a poet who has never stopped evolving. I Must Be Living Twice offers a window into a restless, fearless mind and a deeply felt, deeply seen life. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the power of poetry to reflect and remake the world.
