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Blackbird Song
These poems search for truths found amid solitude, nature, and death, and delight in the joy of love within the complexity of diverse relationships. Lundy accepts the weight and the richness of memory, drawing lyric portraits of intriguing people who have touched his life. Of his aboriginal mother he writes, "She exists for me \ the way the owl \ perches \ on black spruce \ backlit by streetlight \ grey against the night sky \ Just before taking flight." His words send a shiver up the spine with their edgy intimacy, as he speaks of the power of understanding and reconciliation. Lundy's "honour songs" celebrate the beauty, wisdom and power of the earth and sky and their all things that existed long before humankind. In this exciting new collection, his most contemplative to date, he finds a sense of peace and belonging.
88 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 7, 2019
Randy Lundy, a member of the Barren Lands (Cree) First Nation, has lived most of his life in Saskatchewan, Canada which is reflected in his writing. His poetry and prose poetry, both included in this volume, are close to the earth, to nature, to his family, to pets and wild animals. Birds carry his messages as they seem to bring seasonal change. The rhythms of his tribal life and historical past are also present in poetic rhythms.
There are three sections in the book. The first is poetry; the second is prose poetry while the third returns to poetry. It is the second section where Lundy reflects most sharply back on his own history, family, personal experience. This section is more overtly biographical, continuing with the same nature-based imagery but now focusing on self, family, memory and its gaps and leaps between generations, native life. In the other sections, the personal glimpses are quicker, more sliding, wrapped in with evocative views of the natural world.
the final poem Another Season
Buds on the mountain ash this spring, a green paler than
you have ever seen .
Sunlight, blackbird singing. What more could you ask, friend?
Pilgrim, what more ?
This is an excellent collection, which I took my time to savor. Recommended to all who enjoy poetry.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
There are three sections in the book. The first is poetry; the second is prose poetry while the third returns to poetry. It is the second section where Lundy reflects most sharply back on his own history, family, personal experience. This section is more overtly biographical, continuing with the same nature-based imagery but now focusing on self, family, memory and its gaps and leaps between generations, native life. In the other sections, the personal glimpses are quicker, more sliding, wrapped in with evocative views of the natural world.
the final poem Another Season
Buds on the mountain ash this spring, a green paler than
you have ever seen .
Sunlight, blackbird singing. What more could you ask, friend?
Pilgrim, what more ?
This is an excellent collection, which I took my time to savor. Recommended to all who enjoy poetry.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 17, 2018
Can’t believe Randy Lundy has passed me by until now.
Blackbird Song is epic that deserves multiple readings over time to appreciate its full impact. Lundy invokes powerful imagery throughout this work and covers a range of emotions; loss, love, belonging, loneliness, all throughout the changing seasons, so much so, it’s hard not to stop and get completely lost in the odd verse every so often.
I think I what I loved most about this collection was how central a role the natural world, in all of its guises, plays throughout the work. It’s vibrant and complements Lundy’s reflections on emotion and memory perfectly.
Will probably go out and get a physical copy on the back of this.
This was free a review copy from NetGalley and University of Regina Press in exchange for an honest review.
Blackbird Song is epic that deserves multiple readings over time to appreciate its full impact. Lundy invokes powerful imagery throughout this work and covers a range of emotions; loss, love, belonging, loneliness, all throughout the changing seasons, so much so, it’s hard not to stop and get completely lost in the odd verse every so often.
I think I what I loved most about this collection was how central a role the natural world, in all of its guises, plays throughout the work. It’s vibrant and complements Lundy’s reflections on emotion and memory perfectly.
Will probably go out and get a physical copy on the back of this.
This was free a review copy from NetGalley and University of Regina Press in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2019
There's a palpable atmosphere surrounding these poems, a sense of harmony with the way of the natural world; an acute awareness of the rhythms of life. And Lundy celebrates an intense relationship with his forebears and most notably his grandmother, who ...
kept a wire coiled notebook
recording in neat columns
the temperatures, daytime high and low,
and sky conditions —
as if knowing could change what had been
or predict what was to come.
He looks to nature for insight into the human condition:
Memory is an uncomfortable skin.
Your mind like a sapling bent,
curved like the earth.
Curved like a question mark.
Time and again, he reaches for images in the natural world to explore and understand his own emotional life:
He knows when she awakes
she will come down to him.
Her eyes will reach for him in a way
that makes him think of a butterfly on a rock.
How it flexes its wings, each tip leaving
a vestige of pollen
like dust on sun-warmed stone.
A thoroughly enjoyable selection of short lyrical poems; this is a poet I look forward to visiting often.
kept a wire coiled notebook
recording in neat columns
the temperatures, daytime high and low,
and sky conditions —
as if knowing could change what had been
or predict what was to come.
He looks to nature for insight into the human condition:
Memory is an uncomfortable skin.
Your mind like a sapling bent,
curved like the earth.
Curved like a question mark.
Time and again, he reaches for images in the natural world to explore and understand his own emotional life:
He knows when she awakes
she will come down to him.
Her eyes will reach for him in a way
that makes him think of a butterfly on a rock.
How it flexes its wings, each tip leaving
a vestige of pollen
like dust on sun-warmed stone.
A thoroughly enjoyable selection of short lyrical poems; this is a poet I look forward to visiting often.
October 8, 2020
Blackbird Song by Randy Lundy is the poet's third collection of poetry. Lundy is a member of the Barren Lands (Cree) First Nation. He has published two previous collections of poetry, Under the Night Sun and Gift of the Hawk. His work has been widely anthologized.
Lundy's poetry does something very unique. He is able to capture the Native American experience and culture and insert it into Western poetry without compromising either tradition or form. He recreatess a familiar past and common memories with the reader.
Remember the butter glazed, golden
crust of bread fresh from the oven
Remember the oven door
creaking, heat blasting
your six year old face
The first section of poetry is in a traditional style and frequently include a crow on the fringes of the poetry. The second section is prose poetry with a connection to the earth and the seasons. The collection closes with more traditional poetry. An outstanding collection of North American poetry.
Lundy's poetry does something very unique. He is able to capture the Native American experience and culture and insert it into Western poetry without compromising either tradition or form. He recreatess a familiar past and common memories with the reader.
Remember the butter glazed, golden
crust of bread fresh from the oven
Remember the oven door
creaking, heat blasting
your six year old face
The first section of poetry is in a traditional style and frequently include a crow on the fringes of the poetry. The second section is prose poetry with a connection to the earth and the seasons. The collection closes with more traditional poetry. An outstanding collection of North American poetry.
January 26, 2022
Words flow freely in beautiful poetic lyricism…
How did the book make me feel/think?
Our experiences are not the same.
I can’t force mine on you. You can’t force yours on me.
But we do, not you. Us.
Words flow freely in beautiful poetic lyricism, unleashing a flow of pain and suffering created by forcing WANT and WAY upon you, stripping away the beauty of innocence and purity from you.
I feel pain. Yours.
Speak up. You do.
Can we hear you?
Resist assimilation. You must.
We destroy culture, turning WANT into desperation.
A better, more in-tune life, erased, Noise takes away clarity.
We tell you; you can have more—it will never be allowed. We lie.
Look where it has gotten us. Today.
And even in our shame, we still dare to judge—to take away your purity, your innocence—creating unbearable pain.
Sorry.
It can never be enough.
That’s how the book made me feel.
WRITTEN: January 26, 2022
How did the book make me feel/think?
Our experiences are not the same.
I can’t force mine on you. You can’t force yours on me.
But we do, not you. Us.
Words flow freely in beautiful poetic lyricism, unleashing a flow of pain and suffering created by forcing WANT and WAY upon you, stripping away the beauty of innocence and purity from you.
I feel pain. Yours.
Speak up. You do.
Can we hear you?
Resist assimilation. You must.
We destroy culture, turning WANT into desperation.
A better, more in-tune life, erased, Noise takes away clarity.
We tell you; you can have more—it will never be allowed. We lie.
Look where it has gotten us. Today.
And even in our shame, we still dare to judge—to take away your purity, your innocence—creating unbearable pain.
Sorry.
It can never be enough.
That’s how the book made me feel.
WRITTEN: January 26, 2022
October 8, 2018
Blackbird Song
by Randy Lundy
University of Regina Press
Multicultural Interest , Poetry
Pub Date 16 Jun 2018
I am reviewing a copy of Blackbird Song through University of Regina Press and Netgalley:
In this book Randy Lundy draws deeply from his Cree Heritage along with European and Asian traditions to create the beautifully written poems in this book. The poems here can you remind you of such poets as Simon Ortiz, Par Lagerkvist and Jane Hirshfield.
If you're looking for a book that takes you to that place of beauty, and of peace. It allows us a glimpse into a heritage that embraces the beautiful creations.
I give Blackbird Song five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 21, 2020
This collection deserves five stars; it's the first book, poetry or prose, which has made me want to go back and annotate/ sticky-note to mark my favourite places. Some of the poems are among my favourites of all time (especially 'Solace' and 'The Long Walk').
April 11, 2021
“You find yourself feeling the land has, for the first time, looked at you, / And sized you up.”
Randy Lundy, “Black Bear”
Blackbird Song
Randy Lundy, “Black Bear”
Blackbird Song
January 29, 2024
Mesmerizing, haunting. Beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews