Manifestation Wolverine

November 1, 2015
Over the course of his 40-year career, poet and novelist Young Bear has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to Native American literature. As a member of the Meskwaki settlement in Iowa, Young Bear expresses feelings of isolation and loss shared by many Americans in the idiosyncratic vernacular of his tribal heritage. This comprehensive edition includes three complete collectionsWinter of the Salamander (1978), The Invisible Musician (1990), and The Rock Island Hiking Club (2001)as well as new work. Throughout, Young Bear's poetic voice and subject matter evolve, from his early songs of life and celebration ( it was windy that day and spider webs / were in the air offering rides to the river ) to mid-career reflections on wartime service ( All I could think of / was the absence of my name / on a distant black rock. ) to later narrative forms, in which the character, Edgar Bearchild, assumes center spotlight. Young Bear's new work includes concrete poems, which take the physical shape of their subjects, and provide a capstone to this volume. Highly recommended for aficionados of American poetry.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)