kipocihkn: Poems New and Selected by Gregory Scofield (English) Paperback Book

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The word 'kipocihkan' is Cree slang for someone who is mute or unable to speak. This book charts the author's journey out of that silence to become one of the most powerful voices.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

The first anthology of urban Aboriginal songs by Gregory Scofield is a retrospective of the award-winning poet's pivotal work to date. The word kipocihkan is Cree slang for someone who is mute or unable to speak, and charted in this book is Scofield's journey out of that silence to become one of the most powerful voices of our time."I make offerings to my Grandmothers and Grandfathers when I write. I ask them to come and sit with me, to give me courage and strength. I ask them to help me be honest, reflective of the ceremony that I am about to begin. I ask them to guide me, to help me touch people. I ask to make good medicine, even out of something bad. When people read my work it's not just the book that they read, it's the medicine behind the words. That's where the power comes from. That's where the healing comes from."--Scofield in January Magazine

Author Biography

Gregory Scofield is one of Canada's most renowned Aboriginal writers, whose collections include kipocihkan: Poems New & Selected, I Knew Two Metis Women, and Love Medicine and One Song. His unique style blends oral storytelling, song, spoken word and the Cree language. His poetry and memoir, Thunder Through My Veins (1999), is widely taught across Canada and the U.S.

Review

Through Scofield's vivid language, readers hear [his ancestors'] voices and songs, imagine the poet's mother strumming her guitar, and see steam rising up from a cup of Red Rose tea ... his new poems offer up hidden treasures to the perceptive and patient reader.--Arc Poetry MagazineGregory Scofield's Kipocihkân combines ten new poems with relatively short selections from the poet's five previous volumes, which range from The Gathering (1993) to Singing Home the Bones (2005) ... The introductory poem, "kipocihkân," is a tour de force of code-switching, alternating between Cree, English, Hebrew, and Yiddish, the juxtaposition of languages enacting Scofield's account of how he came to be a poet; his is a complex family history, full of both violence and sacred stories ... This reality, for Scofield, includes traumatic events of past and present, from "the day Riel slipped through the gallows" to "the halls of psych wards" to "a pile of broken bones." Thus the book must begin with ceremony, with prayer for survival: "Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai," he writes, "pîmatisiwin petamawinân." Scofield gives thanks, and, almost in the same breath, asks for life. "I'll teach you Cree," he promises. He does, and much else besides.-- Nicholas Bradley, Canadian LiteratureTouching and poignant, if not tragic, kipocihkân is a fine and recommended volume of poetry.--Midwest Book Review (Wisconsin)kipocihkân rewards readers through its excellent, tight composition ... His writing sings out a profound honesty about the complexity of life, identity, and heritage from a Metis perspective that continues to promise strong future work.--Kit Dobson, The GooseThis retrospective of award-winning poet and memoirist Scofield's most pivotal work to date draws on his five previous collections of poetry.--Prairie Books NOW

Review Quote

Touching and poignant, if not tragic, kipocihk'n is a fine and recommended volume of poetry. -- Midwest Book Review (Wisconsin)

Details ISBN088971228X Author Gregory Scofield Publisher Nightwood Editions Language English ISBN-10 088971228X ISBN-13 9780889712287 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 811.54 Year 2009 Short Title KIPOCHIHKN Pages 144 Residence -CN Subtitle Poems New and Selected Imprint Nightwood Editions Country of Publication United States NZ Release Date 2009-05-21 US Release Date 2009-05-21 UK Release Date 2009-05-21 Publication Date 2009-05-21 Audience General AU Release Date 2009-08-06 Illustrations Illustrations We've got this

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