kiyâm: poems

by Naomi McIlwraith

Through poems that move between the two languages, McIlwraith explores the beauty of the intersection between nêhiyawêwin , the Plains Cree language, and English, âkayâsîmowin . Written to honour her father's facility in nêhiyawêwin and her mother's beauty and generosity as an inheritor of Cree, Ojibwe, Scottish, and English, kiyâm articulates a powerful yearning for family, history, peace, and love.

Genres: Poetry, Indigenous, Canada

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would love to hear this on audio

[Vivian Zenari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the bilingual nature of the poetry (with Plains Cree-English translations at the back of the book). The themes are simple and heartfelt with a focus on family and gratitude. I liked the line "This is a poem with a rope around it"

[Josie]

"The dictionary also says kiyâm
means "never mind," and
"let it be," or
"oh well,"
"it's okay," but
I know some people are hurting
too much to let anything be."