Book Review: Living in the Tall Grass
Reviewed by Carrie MacKenzie
“Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation” by Chief R. Stacey Laforme is an amazing collection of poems that serves to inspire the young adult and adult reader. Chief Laforme left home at fifteen and was homeless until moving in with his grandmothers. He has fought back from a life of alcoholism and abuse. It is these life experiences, as well as his Anishinaabe heritage that he draws on for inspiration when writing. Chief Laforme became an Honorary Senior Fellow of Massey College, Toronto in 2017. This is only the third time this honour has been bestowed.
The issues covered in these poems include residential schools, the cycle of abuse, war, ownership of the land, anger and the love of a parent for their child just to name a few. The intimate way Chief Laforme covers these topics speaks to his life experiences and what he has risen above. The poems are organized into chapters with the titles written in both Ojibwe and English. The titles include Shkaakaamikwe/Mother Earth, Gwekwaadziwin/Honesty and Dedwewin/Truth. At the beginning of each chapter, Chief Laforme gives an explanation as to why he has given the chapter that name.
Chief Laforme’s poems are haunting and thought provoking. The reader will have an emotional response to the words. It is just enough to make them uncomfortable but not so ill-at-ease that they do not want to read further. The reader will stop and think about what he or she is reading before going on.
Despite the heartrenching nature of a number of Chief Laforme’s poems there is also an element of hope within them. There is hope that things can get better – that they can and will change. Again, this keeps the reader reading and enjoying these poems.
Chief Laforme’s poetry creates clear and vivid images in the mind of the reader. The reader sees and feels what Chief Laforme is expressing with his verse. This makes the messages more real and something that the reader can relate to.
The language used by Chief Laforme is language that is used everyday. This means that these poems can be accessed and understood by anyone who reads them, increasing the impact these poetic messages have on those reading them.
Also, while a number of these poems deal with Indigenous people’s experiences and traditions, they are still written in such a way that they resonate with readers from other backgrounds. In this way, they serve to educate these readers about these traditions and experiences and the lasting effect they have had on Indigenous society.
Three of Chief Laforme’s poems are dedicated to specific people and there is an explanation of who that person is and why the poem is dedicated to them. This increases the impact of the poem and allows the reader to make an even closer connection to the words.
Another characteristic that makes these poems readable is their length. Some are longer than others, but they are all a fitting length to tell the story Chief Laforme wants to tell. This allows them to have an impact on the reader and prevents them being desensitized to what is being told through the poetry.
Although the poems express anger, love, and respect the tone is gentle. This tone prevents the reader from being overwhelmed by the emotions of the poem and allows the poem’s message to reach the reader.
This is an amazing and moving collection of verse that can generate conversation and educate the reader. In fact, these poems will even teach the reader something about themselves!
“Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation,” by Chief R. Stacey Laforme, UpRoute Books and Media, ISBN 978-1-988824-05-5.