FOr NOw BY EILEEN MYLES
Eileen Myles is unflinching, uncompromising, and fearless. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1949, Myles has produced over twenty volumes of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and plays over the last few decades. Characterized by a first-person, confessional style, Myles’ work explores themes of gender, sexuality, class, and identity. An amalgamation of poetry, prose, Kerouac-esque sketches, and autobiography, Myles’ writing provides keen insights into the lives of queer people. Myles’ impact on contemporary literature extends beyond their own body of work. They have been influential in developing queer literature and have mentored and inspired many emerging writers. Myles’ unique voice and unapologetic approach have made them an icon in LGBTQ+ and feminist circles.
Eileen Myles’ For Now is a love letter and philosophical exploration of writing and writers. Though initially apprehensive about “explaining writing while writing,” as Myles puts it, For Now is contemplative, honest, and intuitive. The essay/lecture introduces the concept of writing as an alibi and gives readers the impression that Myles’ creation of this essay is an alibi, an excuse that lasts, as the title puts it, For Now. Through stories of transient landladies, neighbors, friends, and lovers, Myles demonstrates that writing is intimate, immediate, and always in the ephemeral present. For Now garners Eileen Myles a critical platform to explore and discuss one of the most important aspects a budding writer must master: intimacy with oneself. In this brief but profound piece of prose, Eileen Myles allows readers into their mind and impresses a love for the observant, thoughtful, and slightly chaotic life that writing brings along with it.
