Blueberry Clouds
by Rita Bouvier
Thistledown Press Ltd., 1999
Review by Joanna M. Weston
Rita Bouvier writes with tenderness and humour of her life and family.
Her poetry is evocative, gentle and strong: there are poems that tell
stories, poems that hold a moment forever in their lines as in 'Kayas
Mana'; poems that laugh, 'The medicine man'; poems that cry, 'Leaving
home'.
They are, as poetry is, personal writings that portray moments of
cosmic perception: 'a good path taken/ is all that counts'. It would be
difficult to read this book without being aware of the sadness ('Kimamanow
Iskwew') and laughter ('A good story to tell') between her and her family
members, who are intrinsic to her vision. She writes of the contemporary
experience of being Aboriginal with insight and truth.
Bouvier's language is simple; her use of the Cree and Mechif languages
enrich her work and our understanding, though there are a few places where
a stanza break would be helpful. Other than that, her poems are gift and
wonder: a privilege to read.
JOANNA
M. WESTON: born in England; married to an accountant, Robert; 3 sons,
one daughter-in-law, 3 grandchildren, two cats; has a green thumb and
an enlarging garden. M.A. from the University of British Columbia; appears
in several anthologies; published in Canada, U.S.A., U.K. etc. for the
past 15 years in magazines such as CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES, CHIRON REVIEW,
DANDELION, ENDLESS MOUNTAIN REVIEW, SPIN, WRITER’S OWN MAGAZINE, GREEN’S
MAGAZINE, etc.; reviews poetry. chapbooks: ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES, 1987;
CUERNAVACA DIARY, 1990; SEASONS, 1993; ALL SEASONS, 1996 (2nd edition
1997).
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