An Anthology of Oregon Poetry

The first Oregonians were also the first Oregon poets. Lullabies, love songs, prophecy songs, incantations, exorcisms, and spirit power songs from eleven different Native American tribes introduce this historical anthology of the best Oregon poetry. In selecting work for the collection, Ingrid Wendt and Primus St. John searched through thousands of published poems and invited living poets from all over Oregon to send poems for consideration. From Here We Speak gathers poets known and unknown, celebrated and forgotten, and makes their work available for new generations of readers.

Chronological sections bring together poets who have enjoyed regional and national visibility--from Hazel Hall to William Stafford--with less well-known poets such as Japanese-American settlers who wrote haiku and Native Americans Sam Wata and William Hartless. The volume traces the transition of Oregon poetry from a colonial literature characterized by sentimental lyrics and topical verse to today's confident, exciting, and diverse literature. The volume's concluding section, "Contemporary Voices: Arriving and Leaving Here, 1960-1991," contains a broad sampling of 97 poets and demonstrates the vitality of Oregon poetry today.