Whereas

When thinking about this striking book of poetry by Layli Long Soldier, I think about the poem on page 92 in which she states that in Native languages, there is no word for “apologize” or “sorry”. Long Solider clarifies, not that there are not ways to right wrong doings in native communities but that there is no word for those rightings. As in, we do not say sorry, we do something about it and we are ceremonious about it too.

It brings me to how I felt about Long Soldier’s book of poetry Whereas and the importance of language. As in apologies can be so passive, just like the “apology” President Obama issued to Native people in America. There was no promise in that “apology” there was no action, there was only the word. And so many times, especially in English, there seems to be a social expectation to say the word, even when you don’t feel it. I even think about our expectations of words and the formalities of saying them, even when they are devoid of any intention on action.

            Her own child’s knowledge is also something she thinks deeply about in some really beautiful ways, on page 66 Long Soldier is thoughtful about that learning her daughter is receiving outside of the home, she says “Stop, my girl. If you’re hurting, cry.” (Long Solider 66). This is beautiful to me as here she rips away the knowledge and logic of American white people that her daughter is learning in her place of school, in her daily life and says firmly, not in this house, not in your skin, if you’re feeling something that makes you cry then cry. I loved Long Soldier’s attention to words and feelings.

            In one poem entitled 38 Long Solider plays on American English by telling us a docu-poetic historical account of the Dakota 38. The poem circles back into itself, yet still transmits these striking truths of the murdering of those 38 Dakota people. In it she states, “Everything is in the language we use” (Long Soldier 51). Which I believe couldn’t be more true.

            Another aspect that I loved about this collection of poems is the word “grasses” which shows up multiple times in the collection. We begin with Long Soldier telling us to get used to the word and how it fits in our mouths, in the poem 38, I believe that metaphor comes to fruition. But I think about the plasticity of our language and how action is so disconnected from many of the things we say and how that even seems to be a norm but is so against the instinct of indigenous people, many other people of color and marganilized people as well.

            And I think about my own dialect, and how it is not perfect English and my own trials in being misunderstood, and feeling like I have to speak impeccable English or be branded immediately outside of who I am. I loved the way Long Soldier structured her amazing book of poetry, using her own language as the best utility to navigate.