Spirit Walker: Poems by Nancy Wood

by Nancy Wood, Frank Howell (Illustrator)

The courage, determination, and powerful spiritual faith of native Americans are celebrated in this remarkable collection. Nancy Wood's eloquent poems reveal the unique wisdom and vision of a people who have been her friends and teachers for more than thirty years.frank Howell's magnificent paintings evoke the beauty and vitality of their ancient culture. Poetry and paintings together creata a haunting portrait of a proud and enduring people whose great love and respect for the earth are valuable examples for us all.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Nancy Wood / Nancy C. Wood

"It is a tale of the universal spirit of all living things, and their eternal connection to each other," says Nancy Wood of OLD COYOTE, her simple story of a wise creature's final journey, masterfully illustrated by Max Grafe. These words could apply to virtually all of Nancy Wood's books, from inspirational collections of her own poetry and prose to an anthology chronicling the history of the Taos Pueblo Indians, her friends for more than thirty years. The author of more than ten books for children, teens, and adults, Nancy Wood has garnered such honors as a prestigious Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and an International Reading Association Teacher's Choices Award for her stunning SPIRIT WALKER: POEMS, illustrated by Frank Howell. Indeed, many of her poems have had such a powerful impact on readers that they are often read at weddings and funerals.

Nancy Wood says that she wrote the story of OLD COYOTE when her seven-year-old grandson came to her, grief-stricken, after his dog was run over by a car. "He wanted to know if Buddy had gone to heaven," she says. "I explained that Buddy had dreamed himself into another world; that he was, at that very moment, beginning a new life, maybe as a horse this time, or a bear. He had begun a new and natural circle." Certainly the deeply moving OLD COYOTE suggests a universal meaning as well. "OLD COYOTE is a book about beginnings, and endings, and love among all creatures of the earth," Nancy Wood says. "It is a metaphor for the mystery, beauty, and certainty of death. How easy life would be if, like Old Coyote, we accepted death as a natural part of life. Life may be long or short, happy or sad, but whatever we're given, we should make the most of it, the way Old Coyote does as he changes one world for another, unafraid."


Most recently, Nancy Wood penned HOW THE TINY PEOPLE GREW TALL, an original creation tale illustrated by Rebecca Walsh. Of her fanciful tale, Nancy says, "We are all Tiny People at heart. Though the story of these Tiny People is based on an American Indian emergence myth, it could be about people and animals anywhere."


The award-winning poet, novelist, photographer, and children's book author Nancy Wood lives near Santa Fe, New Mexico where she still occasionally glimpses Tiny People dancing in the wilderness.

Reviews

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up at a used book sale in Mammoth, Fi and I were both drawn to the cover art. Read it allowed to her over the course of several meals on the back patio as the dragonflies and hummingbirds fought for space around us. Beautifully illustrated and several thought provoking poems. Wonder if the poems would be as well received today as they were in the 90’s when this was written. Knowing the author is not native and yet writing of the native experience struck me as off key in several poems. Still a great collection of both poems and illustrations.

[That Babe Ceres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the connection of us and nature in poetry. This has alot of old wisdom that can still be relevant in today's world. After reading this I just want to go on a hike in nature. It makes my feel more apart of the universe than ever before.

[Lucy Isaula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book of poetry with poems in spirituality, the earth & all its elements, and ancestry. I absolutely loved it and will treasure my copy forever.

[Mark Alpheus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 good read

[Judith the Book Gobbler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and lyrical. Well done.

[Larisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

For us, my love,
The faraway moon laughed
And breathed a new song
For all the World to hear.

For us, my love,
The stars deserted the sky
And became a silver pathway
To our dreams.

For us, my love,
Time made a ladder out of grass
To show us our happiness.

For us, my love,
Beauty encircled two lives and
love created on horizon.
by Nancy Wood in Spirit Walker

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirit Walker (Hardcover)
by Nancy Wood
gorgeous pictures and ideals and poetry

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book of poetry geared more for young adults but enjoyable for anyone!