The personal and the past, celebrated constants in the poetry of Bruce Beaver, form the core of this brilliant collection. The title poem "Anima" is an intensely mapped life-narrative that extends Beaver's complexly autobiographical body of work. The subject matter and style are richly diverse, from the meditative tapestry of the "Night Watch" trilogy to the formal sestina section which plays on history and fable. Norfolk Island sonnets and further lyrical pieces enhance this rewarding volume