Synopses & Reviews
The voices of fifty-seven young American Indians emerge in a powerful collection of original writing coedited by the anthologist of YOU HEAR ME? and THINGS I HAVE TO TELL YOU. When the night isgone and the day isstill coming,we will be taken awayfrom this earth.We will be rising asthe next generationis coming.- from "Next Generations" by Marcia Blacksmith, age thirteen, Crow, LakotaOpen this revelatory anthology of poetry, prose, and memoir and listen to the voices of todays young American Indians, ages eleven to twenty-two, from many nations across the country: A young man pines for his "fry bread queen" in a comically honest take on unrequited love. Another teen tells of a "carbonation dance," his summer ritual of crushing returnable Coke cans with his grandfather. Some express typical teenage angst. Others share glimpses of their cultures unique traditions and beliefs. And many speak of culture clash - such as the homesick "rez girl" riding the New York subway like a "Cochiti carrot in the huge ethnic salad." The chorus assembled between the covers of this essential book sings a song that transcends all borders, seen and unseen.
About the Author
Sam English, who created the cover image for NIGHT IS GONE, DAY IS STILL COMING, is an American Indian artist who believes that his role is to paint the contemporary Native American in a spiritual sense. Sam English has received numerous awards from Native American art shows around the country as well as some fifty commissions from tribal, governmental, and nonprofit organizations. In 1997, he was commissioned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to create a mural for the 1997 inauguration.
Table of Contents
Whispers/Vincent F. White -- Summertime/Patrick Lewis -- Subway mourning/Vena A-dae -- Red light,green light/Gerri Lillian Williams -- My heart was pounding/Denise Marie Joaquin -- Showing me/Vena A-dae -- Camouflage/Annette Bird Saunooke -- Disneyland/Sara M. Ortiz -- Dance/Skylar Frank-Green Moser -- Red girls/Mary Redhouse -- Crow fair of yesteryear/Frederick M. Howe III -- Handsome Indian boy/Joanna M. Crazy Mule -- Berry paints/Mikel D. Brown -- Who am I?/Roger D. White Owl -- Gap/Thomas M. Yeahpau -- Pouring milk before cereal/Vena A-dae -- I remember the vodka summer/Nakesha Bradley -- Her blood runs proud/Carrie M. Brown -- Untitled "96/Angela Damron -- Butterfly Princess/Gerri Lillian Williams -- Susto/Ayme Almendarez -- Mom's Fry bread/Latechia Pemma -- My Indian pooh bear/BehtYana J. Pease -- Neath Bay, Washing, to me/Brandon T.N. McCarty -- As I looked/Katrina Perry -- Grandma/Melvin Left Hand -- would you cry?/Maria Lee Feather Brien -- Dark Waters/Sonia Manriquez -- Dear mother/Anonymous -- Young at heart/Jody Roach -- Grandparents/Dewey Bright Wings -- Rain inside the end of August/Lani Wild -- Little grandma/Destiny Starr Lion Shows -- At midnight/Curtis D. YellowTail -- Answered prayers/Tanya Keene -- There is no they, only us/Monique White Butterfly -- Drunken demon that I wrestle with/ Brandon T.N. McCarty -- Not ndn enough/Carmela Thompson Jr. -- Traveling during summer/Phillip A. Snow -- Dear brother/Dominique Johnson -- Ex-con/Joshua P. Klemm -- My favorite runner/Thomas M. Yeahpau -- I am Native American/Ramona Billy -- Old Crow warriors/Frederick M. Howe III -- Oral tradition/Thomas M. Yeahpau -- You stole my words/Vena A-dae -- Disease/T. Marie Hart -- 65-Adam/Nathaniel Bordeaux -- Why the Indians never won/Mary Redhouse -- We finally won/Mary Redhouse -- For the children/Vena A-dae -- In the nicotine kitchen/Jennifer Morningstar -- That night/Desiree Garcia -- Within yourself/Desiree Garcia -- Deep inside/Desiree Garcia -- This is part of me I hate/Brandan T.N. McCarty -- Home/Nicolette E. Kurip -- Foundry/Shannah Anderson -- Holding on to the past/Clarence D. Meat, Jr. -- I wonder/Hillary Reed -- Big foot/Vincent F. White -- Eeling/Johnny W. Erickson -- My love/Byron "Dirk" Little Light -- Indian ballers/Larris Dayne Male Bear -- Tough Style res/Sharla Florez -- Next Generations/Marcia Blacksmith -- Woman/Sarah Jerabek -- When/Destiny Starr Lion Shows -- When we are gone/Angela Damron -- My friend/Joshua P. Klemm -- What dreams may come/Jody Roach -- Living in two worlds/Jessie Little finger -- "i've been flying my whole life,.."/Sunny Rasmussen -- Window of dreams/Tellie Parker -- Giving all I got/Shane Bruguier -- Solitary/Tara J. Reel.