Dirt Road Home

Abenaki poet, Cheryl Savageau has been awarded Fellowships in Poetry from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, and three residencies at the MacDowell Colony. Her second book of poetry, Dirt Road Home, was a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Prize. She was awarded Mentor of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers, as well as Writer of the Year for her children's book, Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Savageau also works as a textile artist. Her quilts have recently been exhibited at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

• Introduction by Joseph BruchacHenri ToussaintsGrandmotherTreesLooking For IndiansOl' Crazy BakerAt the FireworksGiftsJust His EyesWhat the Boy SaidAt the A & WThornsHarsh WordsGlissandosFrench Girls Are FastCard SharkBarbieLike a Good Joke: Grandma At NinetyLeahFirst Grade—Standing In the HallHanging Clothes In the SunAt Fifteen, Louise Kills ChickensLogic ProblemDepartment of Labor HaikuWhy They Do ItBrideInfant of PragueCrêcheThe Sound of My Mother SingingWhat I SaveEquinox: The GoldfinchTrickery: A May PoemSummer SolsticeBones—A City PoemBlessingsThe Sweet and Vinegary TasteToo'kayAfter HoursComes Down Like MilkNight MenoraMother Night: Full Moon Past SolsticeGenealogyRoseannaAfter Listening to a Reading of Romantic Poems About Columbus: One More ThoughtSurvivalMedicine WomanTo Human SkinAt the Pow WowLike the Trails of NdakinnaAll Night She Dreams

French/Canadian/Native poet Cheryl Savageau's poems tell of poverty, mixed ancestry and alliances, and strong family ties in a sweep of visions which trace both the progress of her life and influences and those of her family and friends. Lyrical, personal free verse. -- Midwest Book Review|Savageau's poetry is "Stirring, imagistic, and powerful."—Ms.|"The view from Cheryl Savageau's poems sweeps horizon-wide. She does not flinch away from the pain of racism and self-denial, yet the Abenaki inheritance she claims gives her, and offers us, a woman's celebratory vision."—Marilyn Nelson