Light as light : poems / Simon J. Ortiz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ortiz, Simon J., 1941- Author.

Series:

Sun tracks ; v. 93.

Sun tracks : an American Indian literary series ; volume 93

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American poetry--21st century.

American poetry.

Genre:

poetry.

Poetry

Poetry.

Physical Description:

x, 151 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Tucson : University of Arizona Press, [2023]

Summary:

"Light As Light is a book of poetry that is fun and playful and loving and inspiring. And funny with Red Boy (a voice and role and consciousness in the poetry and stories) as part of the ride"-- Provided by publisher.

"Light As Light is acclaimed poet Simon J. Ortiz's first collection in twenty years. The poems in this volume celebrate the wonders and joy of love in the present while also looking back with both humorous and serious reflections on youth and the stories, scenes, people, and places that shape a person's life. Light As Light brims with giddy, wistful long-distance love poems that offer a dialogue between the speaker and his beloved. Written in Ortiz's signature conversational style, this volume claims poetry for everyday life as the poems find the speaker on a morning run, burnt out from academic responsibilities, missing his beloved, reflecting on sobriety, walking the dog, and pondering the act of poem making. The collection also includes prayer poems written for the speaker's son; poems that retell traditional Acoma stories and history; and poems that engage environmental, political, and social justice issues--making for a well-rounded collection that blends the playful and the profound. The poems in Light As Light travel far across both space and memory, landing everywhere from the New Mexico of the speaker's childhood, to California, Tucson, and present-day Beijing, and many airports, highways, and way stations in between. The central concern uniting this collection is language itself: the weight and significance of English and Keres, as well as the nature and power of poetry as a way of life. No collection of Indigenous literature is complete without the work of Simon Ortiz, and this book is a powerful journey through the poet's life--both a love letter to the future, and a sentimental, authentic celebration of the past." -- Publisher's website.

Contents:

I think of air pollution, I think of China.

i wake this morning at 4 am

A Sort of Poem or Sort of Story For Red Petal Girl

For Now

Ganges

How Did You Know I Would Be Here I Don't Know I Said I Just Did

Saying What You Have To

I Miss You Right This Minute. I Just Do.

Bone-deep Gladness: A Tiny Note From Red Petal Girl And My Own Notes

Not Too Soon A Poem Comes Like The Evening Star So Far Far Away

Looking toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains across the valley, I can't see

Writing An Anti-war Poem, July 19, 2014

Already July 30, 2014?

When We Were Kids

Quails came by and made me smile

Views From Shtaa'mah-My Home-Where I Grew Up

Tiny Tiny Heart Like A Seed

When You're Here In September Let's Find A Desert Spot

Just An Old Story You Might Know Already

Freedom And The Lie: Monticello And Thomas Jefferson And The Plan

I Don't Quite Know

Night Sky Dreaming All The Way Beyond The Milky Way

Giving Receiving Giving

With Love And Awe

Moon Croon by Red Boy

Forever is True?

Turns

Memory

Flying Red Petal Girl

Technology Trappings & Grandmother Spider

Always Memory. Jake, Me, You, Youth, and "A Chore and Task"

Crystal. Chrystals.

Language Dancing. Maybe.

That Girl

Fig

Hihdruutsi & Tuzigoot Rock Lizards Remember

What Is The Shape Of A Leaf?

Rex Barking At The Magpies

A Long Time Ago Story

Question Yes & No

Crickets

What If

Seven Tsinah

Tsunuunuu'gah

Beauty as Turquoise

Awake All Night

Prayer

Dreams and Reality

Arthur the Cat Staring With an Intense Meditative Gaze

Have You Ever Heard of a Horse Whisperer?

Salvation Or Else

Piccolo: Octave Higher Than the Ordinary Flute

Random

Grandfather and Granddaughter Listening and Hearing

All of These and More Love

Reminder

Jumping Beyond

Song

Flaring: Thought Into Color

Prayers for Raho (Past ; Present ; Future ; Caring)

How

Thunder Flower

A Poem That's Not A Poem But What It Is Only A Poem Can Say Words As Such Are A Poor Excuse For Anything But A Poem

O My

A New Dance Song For Thunder Woman Gentle and Strong

East Is Sunrise. And Then What?

Red Boy Thinks, You Think?

Going And Coming

Ode To A Tree, By Rb

Scares the Shit Out of Me

Awe: For Better or Worse

Kee Cumeh Sheh Dzah'dze Ha'maah De'ieu-nahmaa'tyuh. It Was Because One Never Appreciated It. Kee Guwaah Tsieu-peh-taanih? How did the story go?

I Was Thinking of Time

Building and Holding and Carrying

Love Poem Called Quite A Tasty Car, Yeah?

Wonder & Heaven/Hell

A Love Poem

Nest

Beautiful

Love

Guwaadzi, Amoo-uh

Repetition

Spoonful Can Have And Should Have Two L's?

Sharing. Breathing. Talking. Loving Yourself. Loving Others.

Flourish

Hi Jami Love,

Ever

Thank You

Letter From Indio

Years of Past, Present, Future. Memory. Toward Love.

Wanting and Needing

Hummingbird Humming

light strands between shells and cactus

Love Time Is Now And Not Too Soon Nor Too Late

Flowering

She Writes A Poem With Love. I Write A Poem With Love.

Looking Forward

Parent-Child-Reply

There And Ever: A China Moment

Qcui'skah Kahguutrutih, Amoo-uh Always

All Best, Simon J. Ortiz

Face Time Face

After my run this morning

Don't forget to look at the moon and the mountains.

Valentine's Day, February 2022, Love Is Still Love and More

Way To Go, Dylan

We Shall Endure

Casuse

Resistance

Marching: Being There Alive

Must

Clear Creek: A Favorite Love Poem?

Poetry Is Like This: Forever Life With Words

How And Why and Not Knowing

I Think You Would Have Loved Me When I Was A Boy

THE END.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Other Format:

Online version: Ortiz, Simon J., 1941- Light as light.

ISBN:

9780816550258

0816550255

9780816550241

0816550247

OCLC:

1366103645