I cannot wait to re-read this book a second, third, fourth and probably a fifth time again. I know this because each time I have the opportunity to re- read even a single poem I uncover another layer and received more more from it. For example in Long Soldier's "Split", as the title suggests, the lines of the poem split with intention. It became clear to me on my third read that Long Soldier was giving us insight to a split in her relationship with nature/the desire to be inspired by it {grass} and also the impulse to destroy it-
drop
lets I
sentence
to life
less light
Each part of this book is deep and rooted in nature, culture, language and all the things that make up life and yet with all that those living things within different portions of the book the one that stood out to me the most was the one that is the most dead – The (2) Resolutions: the final and last part of the book- the apology and the death of the idea of apologizing. Long Soldier writes in (4) how there is no direct translation for the word apology in many native languages; proof that the apologizer has no done no investigation to ensure their message of guilt and remorse will be understood or presented in a way that would clearly communicate it. Written in a language that does not translate, one can only wonder the validity of such an attempt at correction or the depth of an admittance to fault.
Long Soldier continues throughout the section to reveal the blunt insult and violence the shallow words directed from the United States goverment have had on native peoples. (5) I express commintment to reveal in a text the shape of its pounding.
The author closes the section with a poem that also uses form to create a piece that demands to be visuallly read before it is even read, the lines on the page creating a boundary to be an actual boundary that does not respect, but rather captures and encages once again a people seperated from their land.
This is not apologizing, this is not saying one is sorry this is the theatrics of an apology and Layli puts it to death.
The visual takes priority in so many of these poems, like Ashgar, and then the dive into the language is so resonant. You reflect on this well in Longsoldier
ReplyDeleteI love how you make the distinction between reading something visually and reading the words and their content. I also love the way you phrased your closing lines. So true and so powerfully put. I also cant wait to read this again. It shows so many layers.
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