Girling by Eve Esfandiari-Denney

In her open-hearted debut collection, Girling, Eve Esfandiari-Denney explores the profound intersections of life and death, history and the present, and the ways in which these are shaped by our DNA and environments. Through a deeply personal engagement with illness and mortality, Esfandiari-Denney invites readers to contemplate the nature of existence, posing questions like, ‘I hope it’s ok to die. I can / be something / like actualized metaphor.’

The collection weaves together narratives of abandonment, such as a father left in a church, and poignant memories of a grandmother's caravan home. Grief is rendered with a unique blend of cosmic perspective and wry humor, as the speaker navigates experiences from consuming 'lions mane' and seeking to feel 'super-radiant' to performing 'moon pose' while simultaneously observing deep-sea creatures on YouTube and searching for guidance on coping with loss.

Girling is a philosophical, funny, and intimate collection that speaks to the contemporary moment. It is both deeply personal and communally resonant, beginning with individual history and expanding outwards, ultimately concluding on a note of profound hope as the speaker feels 'life' approaching, 'gloriously close'.

Key Features:

• Debut poetry collection by Eve Esfandiari-Denney
• Explores themes of life, death, history, and environment
• Blends personal experience with philosophical inquiry
• Features a unique and often humorous portrayal of grief
• Contemporary, intimate, and globally resonant poems

Specifications:

• Author: Eve Esfandiari-Denney
• Binding: Paperback
• Publication Date: September 10, 2026
• Language: English
• Print Length: 104 pages
• ISBN-10: 1804272752
• ISBN-13: 978-1804272756
• Item Weight: 505 g

This collection offers a powerful and moving exploration of the human condition, making it a significant addition to contemporary poetry.