When She Named Fire: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by American Women

by Andrea Hollander Budy (Editor)

When She Named Fire: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by American Women is the first major collection of its kind in a generation. It features 97 of the most exciting poets in America including Kim Addonizio, Natasha Trethewey, Robin Becker, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Maxine Kumin, Naomi Shihab Nye, Claudia Emerson, Lynn Emanuel, Mary Oliver, Jane Mead, Mary Ruefle, Kay Ryan, and Pattiann Rogers. The collection includes a photograph and a brief biographical sketch of each poet.

Genres: Poetry, Womens, Anthologies

440 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Muskaan Jadeja]

I pick it up every so often, flip to a page and find a beautiful poem that then inspires me to write.
My favorite: The Dreaming Door (Jan Beatty).
Something about it is so bubbly and light. The turquoise kitchen, the dreaming door, the planets of luck. This poem was so pretty, that it fills a reader’s mouth. The line “I haven’t even started to love you yet” caught my attention. The idea of being so starved of affection that slight care from someone seems like you’ve drunk too much and already been swayed by it. There’s so much freshness in it, as we follow a new relationship with two people alone in a world they’re making together.

[Bo]

One of my favorite poetry anthologies, the sort of book which is easy to dip in and out of, easy to turn a few pages and find a poem, perfect for reading and musing.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

In this anthology, most poets are given space for 4-5 poems. I particularly enjoyed Jeanne Marie Beaumont, Robin Behn, Fleda Brown, Andrea Hollander Budy (who is also the anthologist), Linda Gregg, Barbara Hamby, Dorianne Laux, Nancy Pagh, and Natasha Saje'.

[Lynn]

Fascinating to read the women's poetry and to learn of the women themselves.

[Alarie]

Ms. Budy and I must have been separated at birth (we are about the same age),
for she somehow looks at the world through my eyes--and few people do!

[Jennifer Louden]

Wonderful eclectic collection.