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Horses Make a Landscape Look More Beautiful (1984)

by Alice Walker

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2636100,261 (3.97)20
Poems from the author of The Color Purple: "This book has two fine strengths--a music that comes along sometimes [and] Walker's own tragicomic gifts" (The New York Times Book Review).   The title of this collection comes from a Native American shaman who, reflecting on the terrible problems brought by white colonizers, nearly forgave them all because with the settlers came horses to the North American Plains. And, indeed, in these poems we find Alice Walker seeking a saving grace even in the most difficult circumstances, and in the hearts of the most brutal oppressors. Here Walker's attention turns toward the small moments and subliminal exchanges between lovers and enemies, even as her verse addresses concerns as vast as the choking of the planet by war and pollution. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alice Walker including rare photos from the author's personal collection.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
A quick read at barely 80 pages. And a tough one, for me. As a northern small town-raised white man, hard to relate to Alice Walker's inner thoughts so nakedly stated in these poems. But then there was this -

"My father and mother both / used to warn me / that 'a whistling woman and a crowing / hen would surely come to no good end' ..." ("Mississippi Winter IV")

And I remember my mother reciting that same verse, and, like Walker, she chose to "whistle like a woman undaunted."

And there was also her excitement at an upcoming visit, and preparations made, in "My Daughter Is Coming!" A pretty universal experience for older folks.

And "" Poem at Thirty-nine" is about a father - " How I miss my father," who taught her to tell the truth, thrift, and cooking

"He would have grown / to admire / the woman I've become: / cooking, writing, chopping wood, / staring into the fire."

But then there's that steely, strange dedication to her ancestors, including a "white great-great grandfather ... / whose only remembered act / is that he raped / A child: / my great-great grandmother, / who bore his son, / my great grandfather, / when she was eleven"

Chilling, yes. And courageous. And nearly inconceivable to this old white man.

This is a book filled with joy and pain, life and living. And certainly worth your time. HORSES MAKE A LANDSCAPE LOOK MORE BEAUTIFUL (a quote from Lame Deer) is a long title for a short book. I rarely read poems, but I liked these. Highly recommended.

- Tim Bazzett,author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER ( )
  TimBazzett | Sep 30, 2020 |
The poems in this collection are generally short with fairly short lines. Many poems provide insights into the African-American experience or reflect on events of the 1960s and 1970s. I found the poetry enjoyable. ( )
  thornton37814 | Apr 11, 2018 |
most of these were middle of the road for me, but there were a few standouts. in particular her poem "Well." was outstanding. i'd like to read more of her poetry but i think i might just be a bigger fan of her novels.

from "Well.":

"But what a pity
that
the poet
the priest
and the revolution
never seem
to arrive
for the black woman,
herself." ( )
  overlycriticalelisa | Dec 3, 2016 |
She's a wonderful poet. So raw and radical. You should read this. ( )
  cemagoc | Aug 8, 2016 |
More wonderful words from Walker, whose prose manages to be more poetic than many a novel. ( )
  pocket_saviour | Mar 21, 2006 |
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Alice Walkerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Felstead, CathyCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Leeds, Judith KazdymCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
We had no word for the strange animal we got from the white man--the horse. So we called it sunka wakan, "holy dog." For bringing us the horse we could almost forgive you for bringing us whiskey. Horses make a landscape look more beautiful.
--Lame Deer, "Lame Deer Seeker of Visions"
Dedication
for two who
slipped away
almost
entierly:
my "part" Cherokee
great-grandmother
Tallulah
(Grandmama Lula)
on my mother's side
about whom
only one
agreed-upon
thing
is known:
her hair was so long
she could sit on it.

and my white (Anglo-Irish?)
great-great-grandfather
on my father's side;
nameless
(Walker, perhaps?),
whose only remembered act
is that he raped
a child:
my great-great-grandmother,
who bore his son,
my great-grandfather,
when she was eleven.

Rest in peace.
The meaning of your lives
is still
unfolding.

Rest in peace.
In me
the meaning of your lives
is still
unfolding.

Rest in peace, in me.
The meaning of your lives
is still
unfolding.

Rest. In me
the meaning of your lives
is still
unfolding.

Rest. In peace
in me
The meaning
of our lives
is still
unfolding.
Rest.
First words
Remember me?
Quotations
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Canonical LCC

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Poems from the author of The Color Purple: "This book has two fine strengths--a music that comes along sometimes [and] Walker's own tragicomic gifts" (The New York Times Book Review).   The title of this collection comes from a Native American shaman who, reflecting on the terrible problems brought by white colonizers, nearly forgave them all because with the settlers came horses to the North American Plains. And, indeed, in these poems we find Alice Walker seeking a saving grace even in the most difficult circumstances, and in the hearts of the most brutal oppressors. Here Walker's attention turns toward the small moments and subliminal exchanges between lovers and enemies, even as her verse addresses concerns as vast as the choking of the planet by war and pollution. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alice Walker including rare photos from the author's personal collection.

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