All About Books discussion

Ian that's a wonderful poem and a great 'ramble' to wake up to. I love how in the beginning I was slightly lost, struggled to place the poem until slowly, through that repetition that has something almost meditative and the journey that I could have happily seen going on and on I saw a landscape and vivid imagery of the poem unfold.

I've just paused my comment to read a little about Salish, and found out that it's a language family (do you say that in English?) consisting of around 23 individual languages some kept alive by no more than a handful of people, some spoken by one or two thousand people. Are there attempts to prevent it from slowly dying out entirely?

Thanks, Ian. This is great and I very enjoyed the poem, and also your explanation as to why you chose it. I didn't know Sherman Alexie's poems, although I've read a couple of books by him.

Thanks Ian; I like the exaggerated language of it. I actually wasn't familiar with Alexie's poetry. When I lived in Arizona, I became familiar with some other Native American poets that I liked, Joy Harjo and Linda Hogan, for instance, but this is the first (and only) poem of Alexie's that I've read.

It now occurs to me that the poem in its shifting repetition is a little like a rhythm for a popwow itself. I can see how he would be a hit at poetry slams! Harjo has some similar poems in style.

Have you seen the movie Smoke Signals that he wrote the screenplay for (as you mention below)? I found it an utterly charming movie and quite moving too. A multi talented guy.

Ian, a great poem! I am unfamiliar with Alexie so I appreciated the biographical info. I'll have to add him to my growing list of poets to read!

Ian, I've heard that about the film being based on the stories - it's on my to-read list!