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I Place You into the Fire
We remember tomorrow and a thousand years ago.
From eel weirs to the buffalo.
We remember petroglyphs and Instagram photos.
See, we remember our history,
Without statues, money, or pictures of the Queen.
In Mi'kmaw, three similarly shaped words have drastically different meanings: kesalul means "I love you"; kesa'lul means "I hurt you"; and ke'sa'lul means "I put you into the fire." In spoken-word artist and critically acclaimed author (I'm Finding My Talk) Rebecca Thomas's first poetry collection, readers will feel Thomas's deep love, pain, and frustration as she holds us all to task, along the way mourning the loss of her childhood magic, exploring the realities of growing up off reserve, and offering up a new Creation Story for Canada.
Diverse and probing, I place you into the fire is at once a meditation on navigating life and love as a second-generation Residential School survivor, a lesson in unlearning, and a rallying cry for Indigenous justice, empathy, and equality. A searing collection that embodies the vitality and ferocity of spoken-word poetry.
- GenresPoetryIndigenousCanada
128 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2020
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146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 3, 2021
We remember tomorrow and a thousand years ago.
From eel weirs to the buffalo.
We remember petroglyphs and Instagram photos.
See, we remember our history,
Without statues, money, or pictures of the queen.
I Place You Into the Fire is the first poetry collection by Mi'kmaw spoken word poet, Rebecca Thomas, past poet laureate of Kjipuktuk (Halifax) Nova Scotia and I have struggled to find words to describe the impact of these poems. She talks about her family, her love and her sorrow, colonization, and the history of the M'ikmaw people. She speaks as a second-generation Residential School survivor and her words are powerful, raw, and personal, often heartbreaking but always honest, never avoiding the truth no matter how hard. It provides important lessons for settlers and a call to action for Indigenous peoples and it is one of the rare books I know I will read over and over.
From eel weirs to the buffalo.
We remember petroglyphs and Instagram photos.
See, we remember our history,
Without statues, money, or pictures of the queen.
I Place You Into the Fire is the first poetry collection by Mi'kmaw spoken word poet, Rebecca Thomas, past poet laureate of Kjipuktuk (Halifax) Nova Scotia and I have struggled to find words to describe the impact of these poems. She talks about her family, her love and her sorrow, colonization, and the history of the M'ikmaw people. She speaks as a second-generation Residential School survivor and her words are powerful, raw, and personal, often heartbreaking but always honest, never avoiding the truth no matter how hard. It provides important lessons for settlers and a call to action for Indigenous peoples and it is one of the rare books I know I will read over and over.
September 10, 2022
Rebecca Thomas’s poetry comes straight from a vulnerable heart with a rhythm you feel right to the bone. She challenges and loves. Her criticisms of our city, our country, our colonialism, are challenges to do differently and see differently. Her two eyed seeing approach, beyond dovetailing with her own jumbled up and complicated relationship mixed race heritage, gives us a way to move forward in hope. I admire her as a leader and a seer for the future of this place.
December 31, 2020
"She is a woman untamed. / Because of this fact, she is somehow to blame."
Thank you to Nimbus Publishing and Digitally Lit for a copy of this book.
"I place You Into the Fire" by Rebecca Thomas is accessible, enjoyable, and enlightening. The rhythm of her poems flow so easily and this makes it easy to lose yourself in her words.
The collection is divided into three parts: kesalul ("I love you"), kesa'lul ("I hurt you"), and ke'sa'lul ("I place you into the fire"). Thomas expresses her love for her family members, understanding for their hurt, and anger for the violent historical and modern treatment of her community members. The poems are at times serious and at times funny, but all are beautiful and important. I know more than one of her heartfelt and poignant expressions will stay with me beyond my reading.
Thank you to Nimbus Publishing and Digitally Lit for a copy of this book.
"I place You Into the Fire" by Rebecca Thomas is accessible, enjoyable, and enlightening. The rhythm of her poems flow so easily and this makes it easy to lose yourself in her words.
The collection is divided into three parts: kesalul ("I love you"), kesa'lul ("I hurt you"), and ke'sa'lul ("I place you into the fire"). Thomas expresses her love for her family members, understanding for their hurt, and anger for the violent historical and modern treatment of her community members. The poems are at times serious and at times funny, but all are beautiful and important. I know more than one of her heartfelt and poignant expressions will stay with me beyond my reading.
January 28, 2021
Haunting. Brilliant. Stunning. Thought provoking. Intense. Exceptional. Beautiful. There are not enough adjectives to describe the impeccable writing in each line of each of these poems. The author is wise beyond her young years. This was an eye opening read and a book I want to hug close to my heart and take away the pain suffered by so many. Thank you, dear author, for this book.
January 18, 2025
“if you don’t step into the water, how will it feel your sincerity?”
March 12, 2021
Canoe might be the most important poem I've read. Thank you!
Read
November 27, 2025Phenomenal poetry
June 10, 2024
Poetry can hold so many emotions, tell a story, and relate to the reader in many different ways. I don’t usually opt for poetry books, but when I saw this book I knew that the author wrote this out of having many words to say. A poetry book written for a love of poetry and the need to communicate feelings and emotions of what was on her mind. I can feel so many different emotions, the hatred, the sorrow, the joy, and the love within her words. These poems are like stories, they take your mind on a journey, making you question so many different things. Learning about the land, history, and Indigenous Peoples. She writes about the injustice they face, and how much it affected her and her family. These poems are the stories of her life and the stories of her relatives. How hard it was for her to find herself. I found it all so meaningful, and I loved learning about all of it.
I think that it was really interesting how this was divided into parts, how the same word (well, yes, but not quite) could mean 3 different things. This book gave me a new understanding and perspective to the standpoint of this author. I could feel so much passion and time in these poems, and I can tell what kind of person this author is. I can tell why she wrote all of these and the emotions she went through. They provide a look into her mind, and I can sympathize with her and I can learn. I can understand the stories about her culture, and I can understand where she comes from.
This was such a meaningful read for me, and I really hope that you can check it out. I really recommend it. Thank you so much for reading <3
I think that it was really interesting how this was divided into parts, how the same word (well, yes, but not quite) could mean 3 different things. This book gave me a new understanding and perspective to the standpoint of this author. I could feel so much passion and time in these poems, and I can tell what kind of person this author is. I can tell why she wrote all of these and the emotions she went through. They provide a look into her mind, and I can sympathize with her and I can learn. I can understand the stories about her culture, and I can understand where she comes from.
This was such a meaningful read for me, and I really hope that you can check it out. I really recommend it. Thank you so much for reading <3
September 9, 2023
4.5 rounds up to 5 stars for me. Really liked the rhythm of the poetry--I could feel it in my body as I read.
Pull quotes/notes
"Look for the HBC original canoe for your half-off Canadian-branded series of snowshoes.
Erase the creators of those goods.
Their origin and history need to be understood.
And use them for your favourite winter activities,
like lightly frolicking over her forgotten snow-covered body." (142/285) From "Pennies"
"We are the forgotten Canadian penny.
Our coppery skin removed from circulation over time,
because it isn’t as valued as the lighter dimes.
It’s ten for one—
what a deal!
Just like our land,
we come at a steal." (145-146/285) From "Pennies"
"The case was closed.
No need to depose another witness to counter the whiteness to fight this.
Because who would ever care about another drunk
or Native convict?
So much for the intended Peace and Friendship." (150-151/285) From "DMJ"
"I have softened my protective edginess." (175/285) From "This Thing Called the Arts Business"
"BA. Bachelor of Arts.
As in, Be A sheep trained to bleat
what the prof seeks for his pay.
MA. Master of Arts.
As in, I Am a person trained to think while letting the reality
of my life sink in." (181/285)
From "What I Learned for the Cost of an Education"
A sheep trained to bleat. Well. Hmm.
"I lost my talk, said Rita Joe.
And me, I was never given the option to know
the feel, the flow of the words as they rolled of my tongue,
giving me the lyrics for how our world was sung." (264/285)
From "Etuaptmumk"
I love the imagery of singing the world into existence
Pull quotes/notes
"Look for the HBC original canoe for your half-off Canadian-branded series of snowshoes.
Erase the creators of those goods.
Their origin and history need to be understood.
And use them for your favourite winter activities,
like lightly frolicking over her forgotten snow-covered body." (142/285) From "Pennies"
"We are the forgotten Canadian penny.
Our coppery skin removed from circulation over time,
because it isn’t as valued as the lighter dimes.
It’s ten for one—
what a deal!
Just like our land,
we come at a steal." (145-146/285) From "Pennies"
"The case was closed.
No need to depose another witness to counter the whiteness to fight this.
Because who would ever care about another drunk
or Native convict?
So much for the intended Peace and Friendship." (150-151/285) From "DMJ"
"I have softened my protective edginess." (175/285) From "This Thing Called the Arts Business"
"BA. Bachelor of Arts.
As in, Be A sheep trained to bleat
what the prof seeks for his pay.
MA. Master of Arts.
As in, I Am a person trained to think while letting the reality
of my life sink in." (181/285)
From "What I Learned for the Cost of an Education"
A sheep trained to bleat. Well. Hmm.
"I lost my talk, said Rita Joe.
And me, I was never given the option to know
the feel, the flow of the words as they rolled of my tongue,
giving me the lyrics for how our world was sung." (264/285)
From "Etuaptmumk"
I love the imagery of singing the world into existence
November 24, 2020
Broken into three thematic sections, 'I place you into the fire' by Rebecca Thomas is a hard-hitting collection of poetry that tackles everything from colonialism, erasure, and cultural appropriation to family, identity, and love.
Thomas is a Mi'kmaw writer, political activist, and was Halifax's first First Nations poet laureate (2016-2018).
Her writing has a raw, direct spoken word style that draws you into the narrative. and doesn't let go.
Her point of view - her personhood embodied in words - is vibrant and unapologetic. The poems turn the mirror back on white readers in a way that unabashedly forces an assessment of where, precisely, they stand on the spectrum from usurper to ally. There is anger here (well-deserved) as well as grief, and disappointment, and hope, and joy, and everything in between.
Some of the poems correct historically incorrect retellings and myths; others are a snapshot of Thomas's life. The lines blur.
Moving, impactful, and hugely relevant, both for Canadian / North American readers and beyond.
Advance reader copy kindly provided by Nimbus Publishing.
Thomas is a Mi'kmaw writer, political activist, and was Halifax's first First Nations poet laureate (2016-2018).
Her writing has a raw, direct spoken word style that draws you into the narrative. and doesn't let go.
Her point of view - her personhood embodied in words - is vibrant and unapologetic. The poems turn the mirror back on white readers in a way that unabashedly forces an assessment of where, precisely, they stand on the spectrum from usurper to ally. There is anger here (well-deserved) as well as grief, and disappointment, and hope, and joy, and everything in between.
Some of the poems correct historically incorrect retellings and myths; others are a snapshot of Thomas's life. The lines blur.
Moving, impactful, and hugely relevant, both for Canadian / North American readers and beyond.
Advance reader copy kindly provided by Nimbus Publishing.
February 10, 2023
In her author’s note Rebecca Thomas says “I found something in these poems. I hope you do too.” I think it would be impossible not to. At times achingly intimate, and others fighting hard and pulling no punches—we get to know her in multiple capacities. Personally, I relate so much to her perspective—as an indigenous person of mixed-ancestry, raised by a white mother, the search for community and belonging, the search to understand our own identity and selves, is one that feels so isolating but thankfully with the rise of native writers like her, becoming more common, and in that both inspiring and hopeful.
Thomas is originally a spoken-word poet (I wrote about her in 2016 for The Coast) and this collection really finds its rhythm when read out loud. My favourite poems were those that delved into her family, personal life, and grappling of identity. But the more political poems are definitely what she’s known for and give important perspective to long debated issues with confidence, wry humour and wit. These are great, accessible poems that reframe history and hopefully have the capacity to change some minds and open some eyes to a new perspective.
Thomas is originally a spoken-word poet (I wrote about her in 2016 for The Coast) and this collection really finds its rhythm when read out loud. My favourite poems were those that delved into her family, personal life, and grappling of identity. But the more political poems are definitely what she’s known for and give important perspective to long debated issues with confidence, wry humour and wit. These are great, accessible poems that reframe history and hopefully have the capacity to change some minds and open some eyes to a new perspective.
May 10, 2022
Bold, informative, and unapologetic. A good read for someone looking for a second perspective on indigenous identity and a voice to get you into it.
As much as at times I liked the repetition in poems and how that manages to include so much nuance from just one starter line, I felt like too many of the poems relied on that presentation. I really appreciated some of the effort in rhyming, but it would fall off randomly at times.
Overall it all read well as if someone was doing a spoken word poem, but some imagery, lines, and formats were mildly overused.
As much as at times I liked the repetition in poems and how that manages to include so much nuance from just one starter line, I felt like too many of the poems relied on that presentation. I really appreciated some of the effort in rhyming, but it would fall off randomly at times.
Overall it all read well as if someone was doing a spoken word poem, but some imagery, lines, and formats were mildly overused.
December 27, 2023
This book was really good. The poems were powerful and important, and I’m really glad that I read it.
One this I found really interesting is that the narrator (I listened to the audio) gave a detailed description of the front, back, and inside covers, which is something I’ve never come across before, and I listen to A TON of audiobooks. I liked that that was done, as it then makes the audio even more accessible to folks who have vision loss, so that they can get an image of what the covers look like.
One this I found really interesting is that the narrator (I listened to the audio) gave a detailed description of the front, back, and inside covers, which is something I’ve never come across before, and I listen to A TON of audiobooks. I liked that that was done, as it then makes the audio even more accessible to folks who have vision loss, so that they can get an image of what the covers look like.
November 3, 2023
I am not normally an audio book person and I stumbled into this one thinking it was a regular ebook. Also, it has been many years since I truly read any poetry but this book grabbed me shortly after I started listening. The readers voice initially drew me in and then I became captivated by the essence of the poems as the life experience of growing up as an indigenous person was revealed. The poems provide a very in-depth look at living in this country from an indigenous view point.
March 7, 2023
Oscillating between vulnerable and deeply personal to challenging and unapologetically political.
And, most of all, she's honest.
Thomas mentions that she purposefully included some poems where she felt awkward about the subject matter, and sometimes you can tell which ones those are, but there's something to appreciate about that, and it jives with her stated intentions for the book.
And, most of all, she's honest.
Thomas mentions that she purposefully included some poems where she felt awkward about the subject matter, and sometimes you can tell which ones those are, but there's something to appreciate about that, and it jives with her stated intentions for the book.
January 31, 2021
Honest and passionate. Best read out loud.
September 10, 2021
I am forever grateful to authors like Rebecca Thomas who poor their soul into their words and whose perspectives help broaden my own. Highly recommended!
September 10, 2023
Hard hitting...beautiful....poems that need to be read and then read again. Do yourself a favour and experience these poems in the author's voice. Powerful!
October 20, 2023
A scream from the heart about what indigenous people went through and are still going through in Canada today. This is a beautiful collection and the audiobook provides a vivid experience.
November 25, 2023
Heartfelt, genuine, reflective and political. A reclamation of herself.
December 7, 2023
Beautifully written poetry. You can feel the emotions. Great learning, everyone should read this.
January 17, 2024
The audio book is read by the author so you can hear her emotions.
July 10, 2024
genuinely a book everyone needs to read. so vulnerable and raw, it gives so much insight and speaks straight to the heart.
November 6, 2024
So extremely impactful
August 14, 2023
Savannah: I got to read some amazing poems from “I Place You Into The Fire” by the amazing Rebecca Thomas! I really loved getting the chance to read these poems!! They were very powerful and much needed after the recent events that’s going on. We need to learn more about the indigenous community and their culture from their perspective. These poems helped teach me and educate me in a way I wouldn’t be able to be at school. These poems were fun to read and just an overall awesome experience. Everyone go read this amazing book!!💜 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Devangana: I Place You into the Fire by Rebecca Thomas is mind blowing! It’s probably one of the best poetry books I have seen written. The poems go through 3 parts: kesalul, kesa’lul, ke’sa’lul.
The book provides a window into the struggles and frequently unsung tales of Indigenous communities, shining light on the enduring problems that run deep inside them. Thomas creates poems that not only convey the suffering and adversity experienced by Indigenous people, but also honour their resilience and fortitude. She does this with a delicate blend of lyrical language and real emotion.
Thomas’s poems all have a unique structure that just flows the meaning of it like a song. Each poem in "I Place You Into the Fire" challenges readers to consider the many layers of Indigenous experiences, from the eerie echoes of ancestors' voices to the modern fights for acknowledgment and justice. The poems take us to sacred settings, cherished customs, and the core of indigenous culture, generating a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of these societies.
The social issues that continue to affect indigenous people, such as cultural appropriation, displacement, and marginalisation, are addressed in Thomas' work. She promotes change through her poetry, pushing readers to recognise past wrongs and support current initiatives for racial harmony and empowerment.
"I Place You Into the Fire" provides a vital forum for views that ought to be heard in a world that frequently ignores or misrepresents indigenous viewpoints. Readers can develop a fresh understanding of the various histories, cultures, and struggles that influence indigenous identities by engaging with this anthology. Thomas' poetry serve as a testament to the ability of art to effect change.. This outstanding book definitely deserves 5 stars, and everyone should read it!
Devangana: I Place You into the Fire by Rebecca Thomas is mind blowing! It’s probably one of the best poetry books I have seen written. The poems go through 3 parts: kesalul, kesa’lul, ke’sa’lul.
The book provides a window into the struggles and frequently unsung tales of Indigenous communities, shining light on the enduring problems that run deep inside them. Thomas creates poems that not only convey the suffering and adversity experienced by Indigenous people, but also honour their resilience and fortitude. She does this with a delicate blend of lyrical language and real emotion.
Thomas’s poems all have a unique structure that just flows the meaning of it like a song. Each poem in "I Place You Into the Fire" challenges readers to consider the many layers of Indigenous experiences, from the eerie echoes of ancestors' voices to the modern fights for acknowledgment and justice. The poems take us to sacred settings, cherished customs, and the core of indigenous culture, generating a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of these societies.
The social issues that continue to affect indigenous people, such as cultural appropriation, displacement, and marginalisation, are addressed in Thomas' work. She promotes change through her poetry, pushing readers to recognise past wrongs and support current initiatives for racial harmony and empowerment.
"I Place You Into the Fire" provides a vital forum for views that ought to be heard in a world that frequently ignores or misrepresents indigenous viewpoints. Readers can develop a fresh understanding of the various histories, cultures, and struggles that influence indigenous identities by engaging with this anthology. Thomas' poetry serve as a testament to the ability of art to effect change.. This outstanding book definitely deserves 5 stars, and everyone should read it!
June 3, 2023
This book really touched my heart, as a mixed mi'kmaw, some poems felt as if they were made for me. Despite the heavy themes throughout this book, some poems are actually very fun. Some are very deep and intimate, but some are more casual and inviting. Very good book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews