When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through

"Maybe you love poetry; maybe you don’t. Maybe you want to know more about the experiences of Native peoples of North America, or maybe you haven’t given their stories or struggles much thought. It’s a testament to the breadth and beauty of this collection, edited by a team led by poet laureate Joy Harjo, that it doesn’t really matter. Taken together, the poems – from representatives of more than 90 Native nations, dating from the 17th century to of-the-moment spoken-word pieces – are accessible and powerful and refuse to be ignored."