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Viewing comments for Chapter 8 "Bitter Root"Free verse poems
22 total reviews
Comment from Y. M. Roger
An awesome write from the title on through! To use the 'bitter' in bitterroot to call forth those emotions right up front...then launch right into beautiful rivers/scenery defined by tears and huddled mountains...once you get into your second stanza you can almost hear the cries of the Flathead Indians from the betrayal of the forged signature - magnificent job having the crow do the calling on that one! Hadn't heard about the settlement until this read here - but thank you for bringing forth the heartache that so many endured (and still do, in some cases) .... Yvette :)
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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An awesome write from the title on through! To use the 'bitter' in bitterroot to call forth those emotions right up front...then launch right into beautiful rivers/scenery defined by tears and huddled mountains...once you get into your second stanza you can almost hear the cries of the Flathead Indians from the betrayal of the forged signature - magnificent job having the crow do the calling on that one! Hadn't heard about the settlement until this read here - but thank you for bringing forth the heartache that so many endured (and still do, in some cases) .... Yvette :)
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Thank you, I wrote this one fairly quickly after learning about the forgery this morning. It was done (or asked to be done) by Garfield, who later became president :((
Carol
Comment from LIJ Red
An excellent free verse with another tale of the American expansion by hook or crook. I read somewhere that the Indians could have continued their way of life forever with the resources at hand, whereas we are heading for a crunch...
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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An excellent free verse with another tale of the American expansion by hook or crook. I read somewhere that the Indians could have continued their way of life forever with the resources at hand, whereas we are heading for a crunch...
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Yep, we are heading for a big crunch. Things aren't going so well in the old USA...
thanks, Red,
Carol
Comment from royowen
Yes, indeed. Over here, the government tends to throw money at the aboriginal people, for situations they (we) can't handle, or have a solution to, much like an errant father does for a time deprived child. Beautifully written dear girl, excellent job Carol, blessings, Roy
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Yes, indeed. Over here, the government tends to throw money at the aboriginal people, for situations they (we) can't handle, or have a solution to, much like an errant father does for a time deprived child. Beautifully written dear girl, excellent job Carol, blessings, Roy
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Good comparison, Roy - both in your government's treatment of the aboriginal people, and the neglectful or cruel father with gifts...I got one such gift, but that's another story,
Carol
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Most welcome
Comment from RGstar
Nicely done. I found this giving in two dimensions. One of pure poetic content, beautifully filled with poetic aura. Secondly, the author's notes were very informative, and again today I learn something.
Well done, dear author.
My best wishes.
RG
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Nicely done. I found this giving in two dimensions. One of pure poetic content, beautifully filled with poetic aura. Secondly, the author's notes were very informative, and again today I learn something.
Well done, dear author.
My best wishes.
RG
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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I learned today too when I read about the forged treaty - it was shocking to me, honestly.
Thanks, Roy, for reading my poem :))
Carol
Comment from Tina Crute
I really enjoyed this poem, because it is both sad and beautiful at the same time. Sad because the land was fraudulently sold, but beautiful how you describe the history still blowing around the land. The Crow calling out the forgery is exceptional. Great imagery! Great job!
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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I really enjoyed this poem, because it is both sad and beautiful at the same time. Sad because the land was fraudulently sold, but beautiful how you describe the history still blowing around the land. The Crow calling out the forgery is exceptional. Great imagery! Great job!
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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This treaty makes me sad, and I spend a lot of time in the Bitterroot, which is what we call the area. I wish we didn't have this history!
Thanks for mentioning the crow!
Carol
Comment from meeshu
This is a very fine piece of writing. It has a wonderful cadence and pace. Excellent verse and verbiage. Well done, Carol. a fascinating history in verse.
I wish you well in all your future endeavors.......................meeshu
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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This is a very fine piece of writing. It has a wonderful cadence and pace. Excellent verse and verbiage. Well done, Carol. a fascinating history in verse.
I wish you well in all your future endeavors.......................meeshu
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Thanks, meeshu, much appreciated. I just learned about this treaty today, and it was a sobering discovery. I wish we could learn from history!!
Carol
Comment from Pantygynt
This is like a sideways glance at a piece of reprehensible history that can never be rectified as your last line points out. With six sixes struggling to burst out of the sack at this stage of the week. Here is one of them.
This is so beautifully understated and the bitterness of the sitution is compared so well with the bitterness of the plant's root.
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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This is like a sideways glance at a piece of reprehensible history that can never be rectified as your last line points out. With six sixes struggling to burst out of the sack at this stage of the week. Here is one of them.
This is so beautifully understated and the bitterness of the sitution is compared so well with the bitterness of the plant's root.
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Thank you so much for this, including the sixes which are clamoring to get out of the sack, lol. It was Richard Hugo himself, in a recorded commentary leading up to one of his poems. It was good to be able to hear his voice (he's dead now). Would you believe he was a professor at the University of MT in Missoula? Apparently his grave is there, and is decorated. My next trip up there I'm going to visit his grave site.
Thanks again :))
Carol
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Your poem tells the story well, perhaps better than paragraphs of wordy prose in a history textbook would.
History blows across this valley
like an ill wind.
Mountains huddle close
on the west side, <-- Superb opening lines pull the reader in immediately. Well done.
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Your poem tells the story well, perhaps better than paragraphs of wordy prose in a history textbook would.
History blows across this valley
like an ill wind.
Mountains huddle close
on the west side, <-- Superb opening lines pull the reader in immediately. Well done.
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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This is something I never learned in history class when I grew up. I just learned this about the forgery today!! It makes me feel kind of sick, to be honest. I spend a lot of time in the Bitterroot, which is what we call the area.
Thanks, Phyllis,
Carol
Comment from Sally Law
I loved your beautiful mountain range and poetry! I have never had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful state but, my family and I lived near Niagara Falls in Tonawanda, New York. The Indian name Tonawanda means, "many waters." I am always sad to hear of the treatment and heartbreak of our native Indian tribes!
All my best to you and yours,
Sally
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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I loved your beautiful mountain range and poetry! I have never had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful state but, my family and I lived near Niagara Falls in Tonawanda, New York. The Indian name Tonawanda means, "many waters." I am always sad to hear of the treatment and heartbreak of our native Indian tribes!
All my best to you and yours,
Sally
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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What a beautiful word, Tonawanda. I love to learn the native names for things. Montana is my home state and I spend a lot of time in the Bitterrroot - should have learned this story long ago...
Thank you, Sally!
Carol
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You?re welcome Carol! :+)
Comment from tfawcus
The final lines of your poem bring the point home powerfully, that there can really be no true redress for wrongs of this kind.
"Chief Jocko still rolls in the wrong valley;
his grave restless, his children fat
In row houses.
No millions can replace the lost years"
As always, the historical background to your poem adds to its interest for those not familiar with the context.
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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The final lines of your poem bring the point home powerfully, that there can really be no true redress for wrongs of this kind.
"Chief Jocko still rolls in the wrong valley;
his grave restless, his children fat
In row houses.
No millions can replace the lost years"
As always, the historical background to your poem adds to its interest for those not familiar with the context.
Comment Written 08-Oct-2018
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2018
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Right, it might not work without the notes for folks in far away places, including in the US. Thanks for taking a read, Tony :))
Carol