Territories of the Flesh:
An American Lyric

In this electrifying and profound follow-up to her debut, 50 Love Poems, Angela Nancy delivers a collection that is both a love letter and a map to the soul of a nation. Territories of the Flesh: An American Lyric is a journey through the physical and emotional landscapes of the United States, where desire is the compass and the body—both human and geographical—is the terrain. Trading the solitary expanse of the Australian outback for the pulsating, neon-drenched heart of America, Nancy embarks on a new kind of pilgrimage. Here, healing is found not in isolation, but in a full-throttle immersion into the chaotic beauty of American life. Each poem is a visceral exploration of iconic spaces—from the sacred silence of the redwood forests to the synthetic glow of a Las Vegas chapel, from the rebellious asphalt of Route 66 to the quiet, revolutionary confines of a split-level suburban home. This collection masterfully intertwines the personal with the national, framing intimate moments of passion, longing, and self-discovery against a backdrop of muscle car engines, honky-tonk melodies, and the relentless pursuit of the horizon. Nancy uncovers the eroticism embedded in the American mythos, finding a potent, shared language in the symbols of its culture. Territories of the Flesh is a bold evolution in Nancy’s work, marking her as a vital voice in contemporary poetry. It is a testament to the power of place to reshape a life and a stunning exploration of what it means to claim your own space, your own voice, and your own freedom in a land of endless possibility. This is not just a book of poems; it is an experience—a raw, lyrical, and unforgettable journey into the heart of the American body and spirit.