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Native American Songs and Poems: An Anthology
In this carefully chosen collection, encompassing traditional songs and contemporary Native American poetry, readers will find a treasury of lyrics verse composed by Seminole, Hopi, Navajo, Pima, Havasupai, Arapaho, Paiute, Nootka, and other Indian writers and poets.
Selections range from the beautiful, traditional Seminole "Song for Bringing a Child into the World" to the cynical, knowing "How to Write the Great American Indian Novel." Permeated by the Indian's deep awareness and appreciation of nature's beauty and rhythms, these poems deal with themes of tradition and continuity, the Indians' place in contemporary society, love, loss, memory, alienation, and many other topics.
Taken together, these poems offer an intimate, revealing record of the Native American response to the world, from time-honored chants and songs to the musings of urban Indian poets coming to grips with twentieth-century America.
Selections range from the beautiful, traditional Seminole "Song for Bringing a Child into the World" to the cynical, knowing "How to Write the Great American Indian Novel." Permeated by the Indian's deep awareness and appreciation of nature's beauty and rhythms, these poems deal with themes of tradition and continuity, the Indians' place in contemporary society, love, loss, memory, alienation, and many other topics.
Taken together, these poems offer an intimate, revealing record of the Native American response to the world, from time-honored chants and songs to the musings of urban Indian poets coming to grips with twentieth-century America.
64 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 1996
40 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Brian Swann
58 books10 followersBrian Swann was born in Tyneside, England. He received a BA and an MA from Queens’ College, Cambridge, as well as a PhD from Princeton University.
Swann teaches at the Cooper Union and lives in New York City.
Swann teaches at the Cooper Union and lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 9, 2023
You can feel the power behind these poems; the power of a people that has struggled to continue in a world that has tried to take away everything that they value. I have rarely read a more poignant book of poetry - the voice of the poets here echo across centuries of pain and misunderstanding. Highest recommendation.
June 15, 2018
not qualified to review this... who am i to issue stars to another people's songs and poems?
February 5, 2015
This anthology is broken into two parts:
The first half is a collection of traditional and ritual poems and songs. The second half is made up of works by contemporary poets.
With regards to the first half:
This is not Frost. This is not Yeats. This is not Dr. Suess. Do *not* go into this anthology expecting anything like what Western lit has taught you to think of poetry as. Do that and you will risk missing the beauty of these poems. That these words were/are part of something bigger - a part of ceremonies, dances, rituals and celebrations - is obvious and an intrinsic part of their beauty. The anthropology geek in me found much to fawn over.
As for the second half, there's really nothing I can say that will describe it sufficiently. The poems are funny, heartbreaking, eyeopening, and come from a wide pool of experiences within a marginalized population. I've discovered a number of new poets whose work I want to read more of and that's never a bad thing.
In short, go read it.
The first half is a collection of traditional and ritual poems and songs. The second half is made up of works by contemporary poets.
With regards to the first half:
This is not Frost. This is not Yeats. This is not Dr. Suess. Do *not* go into this anthology expecting anything like what Western lit has taught you to think of poetry as. Do that and you will risk missing the beauty of these poems. That these words were/are part of something bigger - a part of ceremonies, dances, rituals and celebrations - is obvious and an intrinsic part of their beauty. The anthropology geek in me found much to fawn over.
As for the second half, there's really nothing I can say that will describe it sufficiently. The poems are funny, heartbreaking, eyeopening, and come from a wide pool of experiences within a marginalized population. I've discovered a number of new poets whose work I want to read more of and that's never a bad thing.
In short, go read it.
September 25, 2011
I read this for an intro to poetry class, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. I was intrigued especially about how these poems are formatted. It's so different than most poetry I've read before, and that was what I really liked about it.
May 17, 2020
This Dover Thrift Edition contains 27 pages of traditional Native American song lyrics in translation and 27 pages of contemporary Native American poetry, both previously published and written for this anthology. I agree with the statement of another reviewer here that it was lazy of Swann to choose his lyric selections "almost arbitrarily", as he writes in his Introductory Note; he also apparently solicited the original contributions here with the prompt that "it might be a good idea to focus on the rich and complex theme of tradition and continuity", which to me didn't seem promising. (He also arranged the contemporary poetry alphabetically by author, which is something I don't generally like in anthologies.) Nevertheless, I found plenty of strong selections here; among the poems, they included those by Kim Blaeser ("Anza Borrego, 1995"), Duane Niatum ("Evening Near the Hoko River" and "Stones Speak of the Earthless Sky") and Carter Revard ("Skins as Old Testament" and "What the Eagle Fan Says").
As for the lyrics, another reviewer here wrote, "That these words were/are part of something bigger - a part of ceremonies, dances, rituals and celebrations - is obvious and an intrinsic part of their beauty." For me, their being part of something bigger is probably what often resulted in my feeling that something was missing from them; I couldn't get into many of them as they're presented here, as poetry (which, admittedly, is always tricky), isolated from their original contexts. To me, the exceptions were the "Havasupai Medicine Song" and the Inuit "Old Song of the Musk Ox People", both of which seemed more able to stand alone, and were very nice to read. Not even these lyrics seemed exactly like poetry to me, although looking for the effects I'm used to from poetry in the first half of this book was probably a mistake on my part. I'd certainly like to be able to feel the above-referenced beauty in this book's lyrics; so far, though, I fall short.
As for the lyrics, another reviewer here wrote, "That these words were/are part of something bigger - a part of ceremonies, dances, rituals and celebrations - is obvious and an intrinsic part of their beauty." For me, their being part of something bigger is probably what often resulted in my feeling that something was missing from them; I couldn't get into many of them as they're presented here, as poetry (which, admittedly, is always tricky), isolated from their original contexts. To me, the exceptions were the "Havasupai Medicine Song" and the Inuit "Old Song of the Musk Ox People", both of which seemed more able to stand alone, and were very nice to read. Not even these lyrics seemed exactly like poetry to me, although looking for the effects I'm used to from poetry in the first half of this book was probably a mistake on my part. I'd certainly like to be able to feel the above-referenced beauty in this book's lyrics; so far, though, I fall short.
October 2, 2014
I liked these poems a lot more than I thought I would! I had to read a few for my literature and ecology class, but I decided to just read through the whole anthology (it's also only 50 pages, so why not, right?)
September 9, 2017
Zakochałem się w tym wierszu:
*How to Write the Great American Indian Novel*
By Sherman Alexie
All of the Indians must have tragic features: tragic noses, eyes, and arms.
Their hands and fingers must be tragic when they reach for tragic food.
The hero must be a half-breed, half white and half Indian, preferably
from a horse culture. He should often weep alone. That is mandatory.
If the hero is an Indian woman, she is beautiful. She must be slender
and in love with a white man. But if she loves an Indian man
then he must be a half-breed, preferably from a horse culture.
If the Indian woman loves a white man, then he has to be so white
that we can see the blue veins running through his skin like rivers.
When the Indian woman steps out of her dress, the white man gasps
at the endless beauty of her brown skin. She should be compared to nature:
brown hills, mountains, fertile valleys, dewy grass, wind, and clear water.
If she is compared to murky water, however, then she must have a secret.
Indians always have secrets, which are carefully and slowly revealed.
Yet Indian secrets can be disclosed suddenly, like a storm.
Indian men, of course, are storms. They should destroy the lives
of any white women who choose to love them. All white women love
Indian men. That is always the case. White women feign disgust
at the savage in blue jeans and T-shirt, but secretly lust after him.
White women dream about half-breed Indian men from horse cultures.
Indian men are horses, smelling wild and gamey. When the Indian man
unbuttons his pants, the white woman should think of topsoil.
There must be one murder, one suicide, one attempted rape.
Alcohol should be consumed. Cars must be driven at high speeds.
Indians must see visions. White people can have the same visions
if they are in love with Indians. If a white person loves an Indian
then the white person is Indian by proximity. White people must carry
an Indian deep inside themselves. Those interior Indians are half-breed
and obviously from horse cultures. If the interior Indian is male
then he must be a warrior, especially if he is inside a white man.
If the interior Indian is female, then she must be a healer, especially if she is inside
a white woman. Sometimes there are complications.
An Indian man can be hidden inside a white woman. An Indian woman
can be hidden inside a white man. In these rare instances,
everybody is a half-breed struggling to learn more about his or her horse culture.
There must be redemption, of course, and sins must be forgiven.
For this, we need children. A white child and an Indian child, gender
not important, should express deep affection in a childlike way.
In the Great American Indian novel, when it is finally written,
all of the white people will be Indians and all of the Indians will be ghosts.
Sherman Alexie, “How to Write the Great American Indian Novel” from The Summer of Black Widows. Copyright © by Sherman Alexie. Reprinted by permission of Hanging Loose Press.
*How to Write the Great American Indian Novel*
By Sherman Alexie
All of the Indians must have tragic features: tragic noses, eyes, and arms.
Their hands and fingers must be tragic when they reach for tragic food.
The hero must be a half-breed, half white and half Indian, preferably
from a horse culture. He should often weep alone. That is mandatory.
If the hero is an Indian woman, she is beautiful. She must be slender
and in love with a white man. But if she loves an Indian man
then he must be a half-breed, preferably from a horse culture.
If the Indian woman loves a white man, then he has to be so white
that we can see the blue veins running through his skin like rivers.
When the Indian woman steps out of her dress, the white man gasps
at the endless beauty of her brown skin. She should be compared to nature:
brown hills, mountains, fertile valleys, dewy grass, wind, and clear water.
If she is compared to murky water, however, then she must have a secret.
Indians always have secrets, which are carefully and slowly revealed.
Yet Indian secrets can be disclosed suddenly, like a storm.
Indian men, of course, are storms. They should destroy the lives
of any white women who choose to love them. All white women love
Indian men. That is always the case. White women feign disgust
at the savage in blue jeans and T-shirt, but secretly lust after him.
White women dream about half-breed Indian men from horse cultures.
Indian men are horses, smelling wild and gamey. When the Indian man
unbuttons his pants, the white woman should think of topsoil.
There must be one murder, one suicide, one attempted rape.
Alcohol should be consumed. Cars must be driven at high speeds.
Indians must see visions. White people can have the same visions
if they are in love with Indians. If a white person loves an Indian
then the white person is Indian by proximity. White people must carry
an Indian deep inside themselves. Those interior Indians are half-breed
and obviously from horse cultures. If the interior Indian is male
then he must be a warrior, especially if he is inside a white man.
If the interior Indian is female, then she must be a healer, especially if she is inside
a white woman. Sometimes there are complications.
An Indian man can be hidden inside a white woman. An Indian woman
can be hidden inside a white man. In these rare instances,
everybody is a half-breed struggling to learn more about his or her horse culture.
There must be redemption, of course, and sins must be forgiven.
For this, we need children. A white child and an Indian child, gender
not important, should express deep affection in a childlike way.
In the Great American Indian novel, when it is finally written,
all of the white people will be Indians and all of the Indians will be ghosts.
Sherman Alexie, “How to Write the Great American Indian Novel” from The Summer of Black Widows. Copyright © by Sherman Alexie. Reprinted by permission of Hanging Loose Press.
July 21, 2019
I liked this book and enjoyed reading it.
.
زیبا نیست آیا
رودخانه ی کوچک که از دل درّه می گذرد
آنگاه که تو آرام نزدیکش می شوی
همان گاه که در انتظارند پشت سنگ های رودخانه
ماهیان قزل آلا؟
زیبا نیست آیا
چمن های سبز انبوه کنارههای رود؟
اما من دیگر، ای نازنین یار، نخواهم دید
شاخه ی بیدی را
که دارم آرزوی دیدار دوباره اش را.
آری, این گونه است
مارپیچ آب در عمق درّه
زیباست.
زیبا نیست آیا
جزیره سنگی آبی گون آن جا
آنگاه که تو نزدیکش می شوی آرام؟
چه خیالی است اگر
ارواح توفنده ی آسمان
سرگرداند بر فراز صخره ها؟
چرا که زیباست جزیره
آنجا که تو نزدیک تر می شوی آهسته
با گام های آسوده
و از آنِ خویش می سازیش.
.
زیبا نیست آیا
رودخانه ی کوچک که از دل درّه می گذرد
آنگاه که تو آرام نزدیکش می شوی
همان گاه که در انتظارند پشت سنگ های رودخانه
ماهیان قزل آلا؟
زیبا نیست آیا
چمن های سبز انبوه کنارههای رود؟
اما من دیگر، ای نازنین یار، نخواهم دید
شاخه ی بیدی را
که دارم آرزوی دیدار دوباره اش را.
آری, این گونه است
مارپیچ آب در عمق درّه
زیباست.
زیبا نیست آیا
جزیره سنگی آبی گون آن جا
آنگاه که تو نزدیکش می شوی آرام؟
چه خیالی است اگر
ارواح توفنده ی آسمان
سرگرداند بر فراز صخره ها؟
چرا که زیباست جزیره
آنجا که تو نزدیک تر می شوی آهسته
با گام های آسوده
و از آنِ خویش می سازیش.
March 22, 2017
Short little book that offers a nice sampling of Native American poetry, both from contemporary poets (including Sherman Alexie, who I love) and from traditional tribal songs. It was a pretty good read. I liked that it had lesser-known tribes as well as the larger tribes included. My only complaint was the length: the books only like 54 pages? Granted it was also only $1.50 original price, but I would have rather paid more and gotten a longer book.
June 19, 2018
I am not a great lover of poetry in general, but when I read poetry I hope to find at least one poem that speaks to me, that makes me want to reread it and let it dive into my soul.
Although there were some ok poems that I found interesting and there wasn’t anything wrong with this anthology, I didn’t find any that spoke especially strongly to me.
Although there were some ok poems that I found interesting and there wasn’t anything wrong with this anthology, I didn’t find any that spoke especially strongly to me.
November 9, 2018
I really wanted to like this but it just wasn't for me. Although there were a few that I liked, How to Write the Great American Indian Novel, Cedar Swamp, and The Origins of Corn being the main if not only selections, I just felt uninterested.
March 17, 2018
Left unfinished.
The early sections have some lovely selections.
The contemporary poems are meh.
The early sections have some lovely selections.
The contemporary poems are meh.
January 2, 2020
they were all great but this is no movie of noble savages was my personal favorite.
August 19, 2021
The editor even says that he randomly chose many of the works….
November 11, 2021
Read for 7th grade poetry project.
October 19, 2022
This is a short book, but the songs and poetry are beautiful.
February 22, 2023
Beautifully written poems and songs. Many voices of the Indigenous peoples come together to weave a picture of the land and of their people.
Read
March 7, 2025I liked Alexie's and Adrian Louis's poems.
March 10, 2017
Brilliant. Very enjoyable. Beautiful.
May 21, 2016
I bought this as part of my Dover Black Friday haul. I needed a few extra books to be eligible for a discount. I love learning more about Native American culture (which I am not a part of.)
I thought the editor of this collection was lazy. In his introduction he writes that he made arbitrary selections when choosing which Native American Songs to include in the book. I am not sure which guidelines he should have used, but I feel like some effort should be put into selecting songs for such a slim volume.
Overall, I enjoyed the songs. I was curious about the unique formatting in the book and wondered where this formatting originated in the process of transcribing Native American songs (at least some of which I assume was done by whites.) I really appreciated the unique formatting. Brief background on this would have been appreciated, but again, lazy editing.
I felt like this volume opened my eyes to stylistic choices of Native American peoples. I want to state that not all Native American tribes have the same cultures, but the included songs showed some universal traits. The repetition and structure of these songs was particularly interesting to to me. They were very beautiful and often thought provoking.
I did not necessarily like all of the poetry in the volume, but it was all good. I was happy to read some of Alexie's poetry that was good. I love his fiction but hadn't been impressed with the poetry in the past.
I wish that each song/poem got its own separate page. I hate when this isn't done in poetry collections.
The back of the book includes a list of references of where each poem came from, so you can find more of the writing. I really appreciated that.
I thought the editor of this collection was lazy. In his introduction he writes that he made arbitrary selections when choosing which Native American Songs to include in the book. I am not sure which guidelines he should have used, but I feel like some effort should be put into selecting songs for such a slim volume.
Overall, I enjoyed the songs. I was curious about the unique formatting in the book and wondered where this formatting originated in the process of transcribing Native American songs (at least some of which I assume was done by whites.) I really appreciated the unique formatting. Brief background on this would have been appreciated, but again, lazy editing.
I felt like this volume opened my eyes to stylistic choices of Native American peoples. I want to state that not all Native American tribes have the same cultures, but the included songs showed some universal traits. The repetition and structure of these songs was particularly interesting to to me. They were very beautiful and often thought provoking.
I did not necessarily like all of the poetry in the volume, but it was all good. I was happy to read some of Alexie's poetry that was good. I love his fiction but hadn't been impressed with the poetry in the past.
I wish that each song/poem got its own separate page. I hate when this isn't done in poetry collections.
The back of the book includes a list of references of where each poem came from, so you can find more of the writing. I really appreciated that.
January 30, 2024
(5 ⭐️) This year, my mother and I discovered that we are part Native American. Therefore, I've been in pursuit to learn about the culture I have in my blood. I had ordered this anthology awhile back and when I saw it on my shelf, I knew I had to dive right in it. Well, it's safe to say I LOVED IT!!! It was so hard not to tab everything (I always tab my favorite works when reading anthologies of poems, quotes, etc.) because each piece was so exquisite. I've never read a collection of work that was perfect from start to finish. I certainly would recommend this in a heart beat.
June 19, 2009
There were some poems I really liked, some I didn't get, and some in the middle.
My favorite was a traditional lullabye for girls called, "She Will Gather Roses" [Tsimshian:]. I liked "This is No Movie of Noble Savages" a modern poem by Adrian C. Louis. I also enjoyed reading the shaped poems in different ways.
My favorite was a traditional lullabye for girls called, "She Will Gather Roses" [Tsimshian:]. I liked "This is No Movie of Noble Savages" a modern poem by Adrian C. Louis. I also enjoyed reading the shaped poems in different ways.
November 16, 2014
Picked this up at the library for some insight into a Native character I've been writing for Nanowrimo. This was great! I especially enjoyed Sherman Alexie's poem and story about the 'Great Indian Novel'. Some really beautiful poems and language in here overall. I've never read any Native American songs either, so this was a nice new experience for me. And it's super short. Finished it in less than an hour.
May 11, 2023
Got more and more beautiful the more I continued through it. There were times when I could definitely tell that a song or poem had been translated and that the translation had not captured the full beauty of the original work, but that is hardly the fault of the works themselves - some things are just hard to capture, and it made me want to go seek out the original performances more than anything.
June 21, 2008
The poems/songs in here uses nature a lot. This reflects the characteristics of Native Americans, since they lived out in the wilderness. It also involves some identity search. In the history of U.S, it is shown that Native Americans were not treated with respect, they were force to leave the home and U.S assimilate Native Americas. The poems/ songs are simple.
September 22, 2012
Very enjoyable and profound.
March 6, 2012
Some poems were fantastic, some I had little interest in. However if you're interested in learning more about American Indian poetry, this is a great place to start.
August 23, 2014
Enlightening poems written by Native Americans, both traditional and recent. They capture the truth that is nature.
March 17, 2024
Natural
Anthology
Telling
Important
Visions
Ecological
Anthology
Telling
Important
Visions
Ecological
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews