Description
Book Synopsis: Finalist for the National Book Award for Poetry
WHEREAS her birth signaled the responsibility as mother to teach what it is to be Lakota therein the question: What did I know about being Lakota? Signaled panic, blood rush my embarrassment. What did I know of our language but pieces? Would I teach her to be pieces? Until a friend comforted, Don't worry, you and your daughter will learn together. Today she stood sunlight on her shoulders lean and straight to share a song in Diné, her father's language. To sing she motions simultaneously with her hands; I watch her be in multiple musics.—from “WHEREAS Statements”
WHEREAS confronts the coercive language of the United States government in its responses, treaties, and apologies to Native American peoples and tribes, and reflects that language in its officiousness and duplicity back on its perpetrators. Through a virtuosic array of short lyrics, prose poems, longer narrative sequences, resolutions, and disclaimers, Layli Long Soldier has created a brilliantly innovative text to examine histories, landscapes, her own writing, and her predicament inside national affiliations. “I am,” she writes, “a citizen of the United States and an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, meaning I am a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation—and in this dual citizenship I must work, I must eat, I must art, I must mother, I must friend, I must listen, I must observe, constantly I must live.” This strident, plaintive book introduces a major new voice in contemporary literature.
Details
Experience the power of poetry with "WHEREAS," the critically acclaimed book by Layli Long Soldier! This National Book Award finalist for poetry takes you on a profound journey into the author's exploration of her Lakota heritage and the complexities of being a Native American in the United States. Through a stunning array of poetic forms, Long Soldier confronts the coercive language of the government and sheds light on the history and struggles of Native American peoples.
Delve into the rich storytelling and lyrical insights of "WHEREAS." Long Soldier's masterful blend of short lyrics, prose poems, narratives, resolutions, and disclaimers will captivate and challenge readers. Each piece reflects the officiousness and duplicity of the United States government's treatment of Native American tribes, offering a fresh perspective on historical injustices.
With her dual citizenship as a citizen of the United States and an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Long Soldier infuses her writing with a deep sense of duty and belonging. Her thought-provoking words will resonate with anyone seeking to understand the complexities of identity, history, and the pursuit of justice.
Don't miss your chance to immerse yourself in this groundbreaking work. Explore "WHEREAS" today and be transported by Long Soldier's fierce voice and compelling narratives. Discover why this book has established her as a major new talent in contemporary literature.
To experience the power of "WHEREAS," click here.
Poetry - The Raven
