Saturday, July 3, 2010

PoemBowl 4

So this edition of the PoemBowl matches up two historical poems, one inspired by an exhibit of Japanese armor and weapons, the other by the Native American prophet figure Wovoka. 

A bit about the second poem: Wovoka began a movement called "The Ghost Dance" which was an attempt to return native pride and cultural heritage to indigenous Americans. Through a series of tragic (and typical) misunderstandings with the Anglo government and military, the movement culminated in the Wounded Knee Massacre. Wovoka disappeared. Towards the end of his life he made a living as a background actor in the earliest Hollywood western films. 


NOTE: My poems "Sword-Guard" and "Wovoka Gets His Hollywood Star" used to be here. Now it's not. What gives? 

I'm preparing to submit poems for publication and almost every literary journal demands "right of first publication." Unfortunately — and laughably — this small corner of the Interwebs counts as prior publication, so they gots ta come down. Sadface. 


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