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gneumann's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful collection of poetry. absolutely adore layli long soldier. so worth the read.
katiez0314's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really wide mix of themes ranging from native culture, identity, love, and language.
21 native poets ranging in tribal affiliations and life experience.
I enjoyed reading this and learned a lot
21 native poets ranging in tribal affiliations and life experience.
I enjoyed reading this and learned a lot
emilywiese's review against another edition
5.0
Poetry creates a powerful medium to not only lay out the foundation for rich discussion, but also is able to touch upon such painful topics. New Poets of Native Nations edited by Heid E. Erdrich really captures the essence of issues still facing Native American tribes of today.
Erdrich collected poems from authors past the year 2000 giving an overall theme to the book: identity. As white settlers stole land and culture from many Native American tribes, we also stole chunks and sections of their identity. Many of the poems touched on the brokenness of that identity and how empty it is knowing that part of them can never be made whole again or even replaced. Many of the poems also incorporated Native words and deep ties to their culture and communities that I researched to help see meaning beyond the words just sitting on the page.
Poetry gives way to multiple interpretations and lead ways to learn more than just what is seen throughout non-fiction works. We see the pain, heartache, emotion, hopefulness, numbness- overall the real raw feelings of those who are Native Americans addressing our modern world. Studying Secondary English Education, this book would be wonderful to incorporate within the classroom. Students will not only be learning how to read and understand poetry, but be able to dive deeper into Native American literature. I never learned much about Native Americans within my own experience, thus poetry can be a diving off point where from there we can study non-fiction books or articles and really learn about the past and what occurs today.
I highly recommend this book for not only teachers, but truly for anyone to read. I learned many metaphors that apply to my own life, like the “circle of life”, but how broken that circle is for Native Americans. It not only highlights issues, but also makes me reflect on my own beliefs and attitudes on subject-matter I truly was clueless about.
MY TOP 10 FAVORITE POEMS:
Gwen Nell Westerman -- Linear (pg. 68)
Eric Gansworth -- Speaking Through Our Nation’s Teeth (pg. 240)
Gordon Henry Jr. -- Dear Sonny (pg. 175)
Janet McAdams -- Leaving the Old Gods (pg. 257)
Jennifer Elise Foerster -- Birthmark (pg. 82)
M. L. Smoker -- We Are The Ones (pg. 200)
Trevino L. Brings Plenty -- For the Sake of Beauty (pg. 109)
Craig Santo Perez -- First Trimester (pg. 164)
Cedar Sigo -- Thrones (pg. 216)
Tracey M. Atsitty -- Anasazi (pg. 5)
Erdrich collected poems from authors past the year 2000 giving an overall theme to the book: identity. As white settlers stole land and culture from many Native American tribes, we also stole chunks and sections of their identity. Many of the poems touched on the brokenness of that identity and how empty it is knowing that part of them can never be made whole again or even replaced. Many of the poems also incorporated Native words and deep ties to their culture and communities that I researched to help see meaning beyond the words just sitting on the page.
Poetry gives way to multiple interpretations and lead ways to learn more than just what is seen throughout non-fiction works. We see the pain, heartache, emotion, hopefulness, numbness- overall the real raw feelings of those who are Native Americans addressing our modern world. Studying Secondary English Education, this book would be wonderful to incorporate within the classroom. Students will not only be learning how to read and understand poetry, but be able to dive deeper into Native American literature. I never learned much about Native Americans within my own experience, thus poetry can be a diving off point where from there we can study non-fiction books or articles and really learn about the past and what occurs today.
I highly recommend this book for not only teachers, but truly for anyone to read. I learned many metaphors that apply to my own life, like the “circle of life”, but how broken that circle is for Native Americans. It not only highlights issues, but also makes me reflect on my own beliefs and attitudes on subject-matter I truly was clueless about.
MY TOP 10 FAVORITE POEMS:
Gwen Nell Westerman -- Linear (pg. 68)
Eric Gansworth -- Speaking Through Our Nation’s Teeth (pg. 240)
Gordon Henry Jr. -- Dear Sonny (pg. 175)
Janet McAdams -- Leaving the Old Gods (pg. 257)
Jennifer Elise Foerster -- Birthmark (pg. 82)
M. L. Smoker -- We Are The Ones (pg. 200)
Trevino L. Brings Plenty -- For the Sake of Beauty (pg. 109)
Craig Santo Perez -- First Trimester (pg. 164)
Cedar Sigo -- Thrones (pg. 216)
Tracey M. Atsitty -- Anasazi (pg. 5)
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
5.0
I often feel the urge to skip around anthologies during the weaker moments but this collection of Native poets was strong and introduced me to a few poets I'd been unaware of and whose work I want to seek out (Trevino L. Brings Plenty!). Tommy Pico, Layli Long Soldier, and Natalie Diaz were my favorites. Definitely an important anthology.
simlish's review against another edition
4.0
Range of quality and appeal to me, as with any anthology, but overall strong
epicpinkfluffyunicorn's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
2.75
i skipped a lot but there were some promising writets
allieeveryday's review against another edition
4.0
Anthologies are incredibly difficult to rate, but let's start here: of the 21 indigenous and native poets that make up this collection, I had previously heard of exactly four of them, and I had previously only read one of them (Layli Long Soldier's Whereas, which I was pleased to get to revisit in brief).
I love that this book gave me a small taste of the language of each of these poets, and gave a short biography of each with their published collections listed, and then in the authors' notes at the end, each suggested other native poets that more people should read. I've got quite a list going of other poets to check out now.
My favorites seem to be poems that are clear truth, sharp irony, vivid imagery.
-----
From "My Standard Response" by Karenne Wood:
As they ask, they think yes
I can see it in her face. High cheekbones
(whatever those are) and dark hair.
Here's a thought: don't we all have
high cheekbones? If we didn't,
our faces would cave in.
-----
"What Is Left" by Sy Hoahwah:
What is left
of my family's 160 acres:
A lone pecan tree
On the fringe of Cache Creek
A squirrel runs up and down
the trunk
carrying insults
between my dead grandfather
and the birds that live
in the top branches.
I carve my name
on the moon's teeth.
-----
(I read that line about the squirrel's insults out loud to Matt because it was just awesome and hilarious.)
-----
And finally, "Dakota Homecoming" by Gwen Nell Westerman:
We are so honored that
you are here, they said.
We know that this is
your homeland, they said.
The admission price
is five dollars, they said.
Here is your button
for the event, they said.
It means so much to us that
you are here, they said.
We want to write
an apology letter, they said.
Tell us what to say.
-----
DAMN.
I'd say, if you're at all interested in poetry, check this collection out. There will likely be something you will love here among these authors, and it'll give you a glimpse of some of the amazing work that isn't necessarily getting a lot of mainstream attention (but should be!).
I love that this book gave me a small taste of the language of each of these poets, and gave a short biography of each with their published collections listed, and then in the authors' notes at the end, each suggested other native poets that more people should read. I've got quite a list going of other poets to check out now.
My favorites seem to be poems that are clear truth, sharp irony, vivid imagery.
-----
From "My Standard Response" by Karenne Wood:
As they ask, they think yes
I can see it in her face. High cheekbones
(whatever those are) and dark hair.
Here's a thought: don't we all have
high cheekbones? If we didn't,
our faces would cave in.
-----
"What Is Left" by Sy Hoahwah:
What is left
of my family's 160 acres:
A lone pecan tree
On the fringe of Cache Creek
A squirrel runs up and down
the trunk
carrying insults
between my dead grandfather
and the birds that live
in the top branches.
I carve my name
on the moon's teeth.
-----
(I read that line about the squirrel's insults out loud to Matt because it was just awesome and hilarious.)
-----
And finally, "Dakota Homecoming" by Gwen Nell Westerman:
We are so honored that
you are here, they said.
We know that this is
your homeland, they said.
The admission price
is five dollars, they said.
Here is your button
for the event, they said.
It means so much to us that
you are here, they said.
We want to write
an apology letter, they said.
Tell us what to say.
-----
DAMN.
I'd say, if you're at all interested in poetry, check this collection out. There will likely be something you will love here among these authors, and it'll give you a glimpse of some of the amazing work that isn't necessarily getting a lot of mainstream attention (but should be!).