How We Became Human / New and Selected Poems: 1975 - 2001 --by Joy Harjo

Poetry

272 pages

5 Stars

I've read several of her poems in various magazines; this is the first collection I've read. I will read more. 

Her poetry is beautiful, honest, accessible, and will blow your socks off!  Her poetry will open insights into a world just enough different from what we're used to and become mind expanding. I found it a great introduction to a poet I knew more about than knew her poetry.

We are so fortunate, as a country, to have her as our Poet Laureate.

Poems in a Foreign Language --by Thomas Hubbard

Poetry

40 pages

5 Stars

This is a small, hand-stitched book by a gentle man. Mr. Hubbard is of mixed blood, and identifies as Native. His poems are from a Native perspective and deserve to be ranked up there with other, more well-known Native poets such as Joy Harjo and N. Scott Momaday. 

The Only Language I Speak is Foreign really spoke to me. And answered some of my childhood questions.  But my favorite one, at least for now, that will change as I reread the book, is Raining again (A Seattle Poem).

This book is available through Foothill Publishing at: http://foothillspublishing.com/2014/id95.htm and is truly worth the cost in money and more importantly in the time to read and reread. It belongs on the shelf of every lover of honest poetry.