Star Quilt: Poems

by Roberta Hill Whiteman, Ernest Whiteman, Joy Harjo

Star Quilt

These are notes to lightning in my bedroom.
A star forged from linen thread and patches.
Purple, yellow, red like diamond suckers, children

of the star gleam on sweaty nights. The quilt unfolds
against sheets, moving, warm clouds of Chinook.
It covers my cuts, my red birch clusters under pine.

Under it your mouth begins a legend,
and wide as the plain, I hope Wisconsin marshes
promise your caress. The candle locks

us in forest smells, your cheek tattered
by shadow. Sweetened by wings, my mothlike heart
flies nightly among geraniums.

We know of land that looks lonely,
but isn't, of beef with hides of velveteen,
of sorrow, an eddy in blood.

Star quilt, sewn from dawn light by fingers
of flint, take away those touches
meant for noisier skins,

annoint us with grass and twilight air,
so we may embrace, two bitter roots
pushing back into the dust.

Genres: Poetry, Native American, Indigenous

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[steffi]

there was a tenderness and colour in these poems I really enjoyed.

[Melanie]

I discovered Hill Whiteman in college. She is the Real Deal. These poems are awesome.

[Queer]

An indispensable collection that is a gift for generations to come.

[Eden Silverfox]

Nice book of poetry. There were some poems that I liked better than others, but overall, I liked this.

[Susan]

Hit and miss. Not bad and a nice style just not my usual taste.

[Mills College Library]

811.54 H6478s 1984