9780981669359 (pbk.)

0981669352 (pbk.)

These poems, written in the last decade of Paula Gunn Allen's life, capture the variety, ingenuity, and complexity of this beloved and influential Native American critic and poet. In her lexicon, what makes America beautiful may come as a surprise: its horrors confront its hopefulness, its absurdities challenge its promise. A powerful, sustained lyrical and narrative sequence written in the midst of political and personal catastrophe, Allen's last book is at once a bonfire made up of the ruins of civilization, a call for one more effort to set things right, and a gift to us all from this fertile and generous writer.

Paula Gunn Allen was one of the most important voices in Native American literature and criticism. Her posthumous America the Beautiful is an eloquent and poignant tribute to the land and people she loved. In Part I she not only describes the beauty and power of nature, but she also fiercely warns of the danger it faces. Part II includes personal poems on topics such as her own Hubris, seeing herself as a bridge for others, and the excruciating pain of losing two sons. A forceful and touching book, America the Beautiful reminds us of what is important in the world and life.ùLaVonne Ruoff, Professor Emeritus, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago.

America the Beautiful is a tour de force from one of Native America's most influential women writers. Paula Gunn Allen not only riffs on the madness of America's story, she allows her indomitable humor to show through: "I want to ask the trees if they're wishing they could move." America the Beautiful is a must read, must have, must teach, must re-read again, and again. At a time when those of us who knew Paula and her genius miss her most, her poetry comes to the rescue. In the dance of lines she writes, "all's cool the ends."-ùLeAnne Howe, Choctaw; Professor, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Every blue moon or so, America gets a truly original poetùWalt Whitman, Marianne Moore, W.C. Williams, Allen Ginsberg. Paula Gunn Allen is one of 1 these true Americans. A maverick in her genuinely kind heart. A princess in her finely funky mind. A dancing bard in her soul. We shall not see her like for another generation. Read these poems with delight and wonder. It's how she lived, and died. I miss Paula down to the sorry bones of my being.-Kenneth Lincoln, La Cieneguilla, New Mexico --Book Jacket.

Machine generated contents note: Apache Warrior [

] Apache Troop / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful I / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful II / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful III / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful IV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful V / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful VI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful VII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful VIII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful IX / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful X / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XIII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XIV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XVI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XVII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XVIII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XIX / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XX / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXIII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXIV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXVI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXVII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXVIII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXIX / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXX / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXIII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXIV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXV / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXVI / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXVII / Patricia Clark Smith

America the Beautiful XXXVIII / Patricia Clark Smith

The Kingdom of Nye / Patricia Clark Smith

Three / Patricia Clark Smith

Another Shore / Patricia Clark Smith

Sin Verguenza / Patricia Clark Smith

Wayward Girl's Lament / Patricia Clark Smith

Skyscape / Patricia Clark Smith

Values / Patricia Clark Smith

Still Crazy / Patricia Clark Smith

Self Portrait and a Wish / Patricia Clark Smith

Dawn Sneaks / Patricia Clark Smith

I Understand When I Watch TV / Patricia Clark Smith

coyote rhymester on the lam / Patricia Clark Smith

All the Same Beans / Patricia Clark Smith

Which Way's Up, Doc? / Patricia Clark Smith

Borrachitarme Voy / Patricia Clark Smith

SE FUE (He Left [Himself]) / Patricia Clark Smith

Minding the Gap / Patricia Clark Smith

Treasured / Patricia Clark Smith

Love Poem / Patricia Clark Smith

How Near, How Far / Patricia Clark Smith.