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Viewing comments for Chapter 14 "The Wind is 95"
Free verse poems

15 total reviews 
Comment from Joan E.
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Thank you for your notes of additional context and the vivid, historic photograph. I admired your poetic indictment--yes, "the wound is still fresh" and the ghosts wail! Sighs- Joan

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 20-Sep-2018
    I think it wouldn't be so hard to heal the wounds if life wasn't so grim on the reservations. Thank you for reading, Joan, I appreciate it :)
    carol
Comment from royowen
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This was one of the worst tragedies in the annals of North American Indians, the epic journey of Chief Joseph. Another beautifully written free verse, expressed in rich quotable language Carol. Well done, blessings, Roy

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2018
    I think this story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce's flight to Canada is well known throughout the world - but there are aspects of it that I didn't know before researching this piece. Always good to learn, no matter how sobering the subject. THanks, Roy.
    Carol
reply by royowen on 19-Sep-2018
    Well done
Comment from LIJ Red
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I have read Chief Joseph's "I will fight no more forever" speech. I know the locals of this area had no interest in ever owning a slave but they fought to defend their home-the south. The US government in many cases was a rapacious monster. Like an essential medication with awful side effects...I like the Sapphonic Triad, a good quote always catches me.

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2018
    I'm not sure the US government is an essential medication, but it certainly has had terrible side effects. The original idea of democracy was great, too bad it didn't extend to people of different races.
    Thanks Red,
    Carol
Comment from BeasPeas
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Hi Carol. A wonderful, but heartbreaking theme for your Sapphonic Triad. Well done in this form as always, since you were one of the co-creators of it. Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce, so sad, what happened to our native peoples. Thank you for sharing. Marilyn

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    Variations of this have happened all over the world, it's not a proud history. Thanks, Marilyn,
    Carol
reply by BeasPeas on 20-Sep-2018
    Yes, most countries have a history of treating their indigenous peoples badly.
Comment from Ulla
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Hi Carol, I'm so happy for your notes because otherwise I wouldn't have understood your poem. Now I do. It must have been awful to be ruthlessly robbed of what was really your land. All the best. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    Lol, I admit I was not sure what he meant by the wind is 95 at first, it took a bit of research to figure it out. It's funny because one person who has read a couple of my poems seems to object to the notes, oh well.

    Carol
reply by Ulla on 18-Sep-2018
    There's always somebody who knows it all. I wouldn;t worry. xx
Comment from Pantygynt
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He is quite a poet your Mr Hugo. I might use one of his tonight at our P & P when the call the round of published poetry. Your last line here says it all. So there is no point in my rubbing it in. This is fine use of the form you invented.

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    So, I've read a Richard Hugo poem at each of my visits to the P&P meetings. I hope you read the Bear Paw poem, but of course, it's obviously up to you and you're probably home already anyway :)
reply by Pantygynt on 19-Sep-2018
    I read it.
Comment from Y. M. Roger
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Wow - a really moving and vivid implementation of the saphonic triad -- the quote from the original poem definitely grabs the attention of the reader...placing them in the hopelessness of the situation...and then your words, Carol! Almost makes you look to the side to see if he's there...or if that's just the wind wailing at 95! :) :) The conclusion is quite fitting for the subject...exiting with that uncomfortable feeling between sadness, mourning, and guilt for something for which we were not present...just awesome!! :) ;) Yvette

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    I love that about how the wind pours from the east. You got exactly the sentiments that I was feeling myself, which is part of the reason I like Hugo so much - he has it too, and he's spent time in a lot of remote, hard scrabble places on the reservations in Montana. It's funny about that guilt - we were not there, my ancestors weren't even there as they were still in Italy and Ireland at the time. Part of it for me is that I grew up there, and was just oblivious to all of it. Never knew a single Native American person, not even kids in our schools. They were all on the reservation.
    Thanks so much for this great review :))
    Carol
Comment from CD Richards
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It's hard to fathom these days how distressing it must have been for the original inhabitants of much of the western world to be invaded, and have their lands taken from them; not to mention the cruelty they suffered for simply trying to keep what was theirs. And yet we celebrate the 'accomplishments' of these usurpers. Obviously, we can't turn back the clock, and those living in these places today had no say in the matter, so can hardly be held responsible for the sins of their ancestors. Nor can we give back everything that was taken. But we could try, perhaps, not to rub native people's noses in it quite so much.

Thanks for sharing this well-written poem, Carol. Good job.

Craig

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    I'm sure it's much like your native people, Craig. Speaking of which, I just watched an excellent Australian mystery, that took place in a tiny town in the Outback, with a rich white family who owned a huge chunk of land. Turns out the grandfather used to poison the blacks, to keep them from using "his" water - as if they were pesky rodents or something. Sickening. There was a 'black' detective in the movie who was excellent. Now I have to try to remember the name of it!

    Funny how there are parallels in our histories. Much of our history in the American West is nothing to be proud of - and I feel ashamed even though none of my ancestors were anywhere near the place at that time. Mine came from Ireland and Italy, in the last century.

    Carol
reply by CD Richards on 18-Sep-2018
    I'd be interested to know, Carol. It doesn't ring a bell.
reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    It's actually a TV series called Mystery Road. I just looked it up.
reply by CD Richards on 18-Sep-2018
    Ah, yes. I watched the first couple of episodes, about two missing aboriginal boys. It seems the TV series was based on a 2013 movie, which I haven't seen. Perhaps that is what you saw? I will have to get back to finishing the series AND seeing the original flick :)
Comment from Spitfire
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After reading the notes, I understand the title. How ironic!
I like the combination of a poet and his theme. The two stanzas tie together with alliteration of ghost and guilt, assonance of deception and fresh.

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    I had to research the author and Looking Glass to figure out that line myself. Thanks so much for your review,
    Carol
Comment from Gloria ....
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This is a superb sapphonic triad, Carol. How unique and authentic. I've never read Hugo's poetry, but I am a fan of grassroots political writing.

So true, the wounds are still fresh because they were practically destroyed.

A fine triad with excellent social commentary.

Gloria

 Comment Written 17-Sep-2018


reply by the author on 18-Sep-2018
    Thank you, I appreciate this praise having seen your own Sapphonic Triads!

    I really love Hugo's work - we Montanans are proud of him. He was a fixture in Missoula, my home town.

    Carol