When The Rain Sings: Poems By Young Native Americans

by Lee Francis

Enhanced with full-color photos of pieces in the Smithsonian collection, this compilation of poems by young Native Americans offers an insightful exploration of Native American history, tradition, and culture.

Genres: Poetry, Cultural

76 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[Vicki Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry by young Native Americans accompanied by lovely photography. A must read.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passion filled and heart-breaking look at life from the eyes of young native Americans.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing poetry by young native americans. It is mostly about the lives of slaves. But evan though they are slaves they still make amazing poetry.

This book full of amazing poetry made me almost cry because of how poorly they were treated. If you read this book I advise you to grab a box of kleenex.

I recommend this book to girls who care.

[Steph Lovelady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is nicely put together. The poems are divided by the children's tribes and there are photographs of artifacts from the National Museum of the American Indian interposed between them. The poems themselves are of uneven quality, but some are quite moving.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a short volume, the poems included are impactful and full of observations and wisdom beyond the ages of their authors.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems were written by students participating in a program created by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. In the program, photos of tribal items were sent to grade schools and high schools around the country - students from a particular sovereign nation were asked to write poetry in response to objects from that nation, although they could write anything they wanted.

So, these poems are from "the youth of Native America", according to Lee Francis, the national director of the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers, of the Laguna Pueblo people.

Some of the poems describe historical scenes that the young writers remembered when looking at photos of people, art, crafts, or utensils, and some describe current life, some closely related to the object, others more loosely connected. In most cases, the person writing the poem is of the same tribe as the object in the photo. (I wish we could have seen photos of the authors!)

Most of the children or their ancestors live or lived on Indian reservations, and the memory of being forcibly removed from their land is mentioned by some of the authors, as are historic battles, residential schools, and inadequate access to resources such as medical care. Some are lyrical, others are matter-of-fact.

It is beautiful to hear these young people make connections between their lives and the historic scenes and object pictured. Many of the poems are heart-wrenching, but the overall feeling they give is that these young people know their culture and history and understand that they are conveying it to the world.

Patrick Lewis-Jose (a 16-year-old Tohono O'odham attending high school in Arizona) wrote a long & very moving poem. Excerpts: "I was not there when it all happened but my eyes hurt from seeing and my eyes hurt from crying." (5th paragraph) ... "I can feel it sometimes in the calm before the storm. I can feel the rhythm of a people in the voices of the children. In the rain I can hear their new feet dancing and remembering. And in my heart the fear of not knowing is covered with hope, of bare feet gripping the earth in the rain." (23-25th paragraphs)

There are many more poems by other young people that are equally eloquent, moving, and deeply rich with imagery and history.

[Dreamergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will connect souls through generations to come. Some poems weren't that good but they were truthful and I believe that truth can touch anyone's heart. The introductions were glorious too and this whole 74 paged read made my soul get up and take a dance. It was filled with wonderful American Indian pictures from findings- from the 19th century and older that went with the poems inside. Some were pictures of indians dressed in their clothing that live just like they did when the first Europeans came... They were real craftsmakers! It is divided into 8 sections: foreword, about the book, the introduction and the acknowledgments, Ojibwe tribe, Lakota tribe (that I know the most about), Omaga tribe, Navajo tribe, Cochiti- Kiowa tribe, Tohono O'odham tribe, and Hopi tribe. I liked almost all of the poems and the heart these girls and guys put into them... There were some from kids merely 7 to young people of 18. I loved this book and it's a pity I borrowed it from the library and have to return it soon, otherwise I would have never stopped reading it over and over again... The covers I must compliment were amazing in the When the Rain Sings. I have to visit the National Museum of the American Indians sometime because of all of the wonderful crafts from Native Americans that were inside. Touching and everlasting, you will cherish this little black book forever...

I would recommend...

Interest level: Medium-high
Reading level: Easy-medium
Grade level: 4th-8th

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This anthology of poetry by Native American youth gives voice to common struggles and joys of youth of all cultures and sheds light on issues specific to Native American experience. Woven into the book are photographs of artifacts and pictures featured at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

Audience: grades 4-8

Uses: Poetry exploration. This book uses a vast array of styles and forms. Could be enjoyed as a group in read aloud or by transitional readers in shared reading. This book is a great resource for the study and appreciation of Native American heritage and tradition and helps to give readers an understanding of the experiences and struggles of youth of this culture.

Additional Notes: Prior to using this book, the reader should have some understanding of Native American history and the social injustices they faced in our nation's history.

[Jessica Breighner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This anthology of poetry by Native American youth gives voice to common struggles and joys of youth of all cultures and sheds light on issues specific to Native American experience. Woven into the book are photographs of artifacts and pictures featured at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

Audience: grades 4-8

Uses: Poetry exploration. This book uses a vast array of styles and forms. Could be enjoyed as a group in read aloud or by transitional readers in shared reading. This book is a great resource for the study and appreciation of Native American heritage and tradition and helps to give readers an understanding of the experiences and struggles of youth of this culture.

Additional Notes: Prior to using this book, the reader should have some understanding of Native American history and the social injustices they faced in our nation's history.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great poems.

[Elizabeth Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would normally be four or five stars, being poetry and all but some of it was stiff.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very good poems in this book. Some were better than others, but all were written from the heart. This is a good book of poetry.