Requiem, Rwanda

by Laura Apol

A marvelous, moving new collection of poems, Requiem, Rwanda has its roots in 2006, when Laura Apol made her first trip to Rwanda. Apol’s initial goal was to develop, in conjunction with Rwandan and American colleagues, a project using narrative writing to facilitate healing among young survivors of the 1994 genocide. During the time she spent leading workshops, Apol felt moved to write her own poems, and after the writing-for-healing project ended, she returned to Rwanda several times to continue her creative work. The legacy of the genocide—on the people, on the land itself—makes its presence felt in many of the poems. The poems are also accounts of Apol’s relationships with and understandings of people post-genocide—where their stories go, how they reenter their lives, and how a country that has been deeply wounded by its history continues on. These poems don’t shy away from exploring the complications of being a white woman, a Westerner, and a witness in this Apol relates her sense of compassion, privilege, horror, guilt, voyeurism, obligation, and love. This new collection is a rich testimonial to the strength of a nation and its people. The collection includes a closing essay, "Writer as a Witness."

123 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

Laura Apol is an associate professor of teacher education. Her research interests include literary theory and children's and adolescent literature, issues of diversity in children's and adolescent literature, critical reading and response to literature, and historical children's literature. Recent projects include using writing to facilitate healing among high school- aged orphans in post-genocide Rwanda, and publishing stories of Rwandan Tutsi genocide for children of Rwanda and of the world. She has co-edited a collection of poetry for children and, as a published writer and poet, she conducts creative writing workshops and classes for teachers and students on all levels.

(from http://education.msu.edu/search/Formv...)

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed and fascinated me from the beginning. It contains a prologue, which gives a brief history of Rwanda, as well as an epilogue on writer as witness. Tucked in between are powerful poems depicting the 1994 genocide. Similar to the best ekphrastic poetry, in which it shouldn't be necessary for the reader to view the painting, these poems are strong enough to stand alone, although basic knowledge of the Rwanda genocide gives perspective.

The Hotel Bar

the journalist in flip-flops
is typing up his notes.

Now he eats fried chips,
now he drinks draft Primus as he works.

Now he turns from the keyboard,
his hands over his face.

His sobs wrack the room.

The book evolved from a writing-as-healing project originating at Michigan State University, where Apol was a professor. She went to Rwanda several times to teach writing workshops to survivors, and she interviewed them and absorbed their stories. Requiem Rwanda is a stellar example of the power of poetry to inform, to educate, to memorialize, and to witness.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving, accessible poems, with a foreword and afterword for context.