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Fall/Winter 2005 poetry selection for Poetry Talk discussion group

Evidence of Red by LeAnne Howe

Publication Details Paperback: 101 pages; Publisher: Salt Publishing; ISBN: 1844710629; Published: Jan. 1, 2005.


Evidence of Red contains dramatic events of the creation of a people, interwoven with a haunting narrative of their lost homelands. Howe takes her readers through the chaos of lost lives and the cannibalism of fallen lovers, inviting readers into her world of Choctaw Code Talking. These poems are rebellious and, like the Choctaws, they will endure.

"I am stunned by the beauty, humor, and originality of this book. It feels as new as the Garden of Eden, except Adam is really the Holy Trinity of the Three Stooges, and Eve is a genius Native woman poet–professor. For years, I've hoped that we Native writers will build a 21st century literary rocket and blast off into brand new space. LeAnne Howe (along with Adam, Eve, the Three Stooges, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Crazy Horse and Custer, and the entire cast of Gilligan's Island, along with Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and five or six smiling Indian elders) has done exactly that. This book is new." - Sherman Alexie

Excerpt from book, included here with permission from LeAnne Howe

Evidence of Red

First, night opened out.
Bodies took root from rotting salt
and seawater into evidence of red life.
Relentless waves pumped tidal air
into a single heartbeat.

In the pulp of shadow and space,
water sucked our people from sleep.
That’s how it all began. At least
that’s all we can remember to tell.
It began with water and heartbeat.

In minutes we tunneled through
corn woman’s navel into tinges
of moist red men and women.
Yawning, we collected our chins,
knees, breasts, and sure–footed determination.

A few thousand years before
Moses parted the Red Sea, and the
God with three heads was born in the Middle East,
the Choctaw people danced
our homeland infra red.

Finally when the stranger’s arms
reached to strangle the West,
Grandmother eavesdropped
on the three–faced deity
who said that chaos was coming.

When he turned his lips and tried to kiss her
she made it rain on him.
“Maybe you’ve forgotten
you were born of water and women,”
she said, walking away laughing.

LeAnne Howe, copyright 2005.
Please contact Salt Publishing for permission to use this poem.

Reviews

LeAnne Howe’s Evidence of Red is a complex and exhilarating symphony, with passages of mythic sweep, swatches of history, and poignant memoir – held together with her inimitable take-no-prisoners comic sense. - Ken McCullough

How does she do it? Cross ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ with ‘War and Peace’ in a voice that sings America’s song as deeply as the best musical poetry of Walt Whitman? But no, Howe’s voice is so utterly unique, comparisons can’t do her justice. Evidence of Red succeeds on every level: emotional, intellectual, spiritual, sensual, political. This volume is a gift from a rich place – wise, generous, exciting, and completely fresh. - Susan Power

LeAnne Howe’s Evidence of Red: Poems and Prose cracks open the strictures of literature with passion, enthusiasm, verve, and style! And I mean it is truly coming into being Choctaw style and beyond! You haven’t read Howe yet until you experience her ranging in Evidence of Red from oral story style, poetic verse, fiction, dramatic script, even a bit of a musical, take your pick. And then let her lead you into history, intrigue, comedy and comic insight, even mystery, yes, as she impells you and other readers toward decolonization with attitude!! A very fine and fulfilling read. - Simon J. Ortiz

Other sources

Biographhy of LeAnne Howe

Where to find it? Suggestions -

• Amazon.com has both new & used copies
• Alibris.com has used copies for sale
• Look for it online at your local bookstore
• Your local library may also have copies

Join in the discussion Please visit Yahoo! Groups to sign up and to participate in Poetry Talk: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FallsApart_PoetryTalk

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