Miya Pearson
Sleeping in the Rain is a collection of poems written by Gordon Henry Jr., a professor at Michigan State University and an enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota. The poems were written mostly between 1981 and 1983 and were first published in Earth Power Coming by Navajo Community College Press, Tsaile, Arizona, in 1983. One of the poems in the collection includes a woman somewhere past ninety now, dreaming that she is back on the reservation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Gordon Henry, Jr. |
| Profession | Professor at Michigan State University |
| Poem | Sleeping in the Rain |
| Description | An old woman dreams of being up north, on a reservation, in autumn |
| Date | First published in 1983 |
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What You'll Learn
'Sleeping in the Rain' is a collection of poems
"Sleeping in the Rain" is a collection of poems by Gordon Henry, Jr., a professor at Michigan State University and an enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota. The collection, written mostly between 1981 and 1983, includes Henry's first published poem, also titled "Sleeping in the Rain."
Henry's poetry is deeply rooted in his Native American heritage and personal experiences. In "Sleeping in the Rain," he paints vivid images of nature, dreams, and reflections. For instance, one of the poems in the collection depicts an old woman dreaming of being on a reservation in the autumn, with "pine smoke hanging over the tops of houses, leaves sleepwalking in [the] gray wind, [and] skeletal trees scratching [the] ghost gray sky."
Henry's work explores themes of heartache, longing, and loss, processed through imagery and sense remembrance. His poems often serve as a means to turn or change consciousness, both for himself and for his readers. Henry's writing style is described as "private," as he initially wrote fragments without formal training and kept his work to himself for several years.
"Sleeping in the Rain" is more than just a collection of poems; it is a journey into the heart of Henry's experiences and perspectives, offering readers a glimpse into his world and inviting them to explore their own emotions and imaginations.
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The poems were written between 1981 and 1983
Gordon Henry Jr. is an Anishinaabe of the White Earth Nation in Northwest Minnesota and a professor at Michigan State University. His first published poem, "Sleeping in the Rain", was included in the anthology "Songs from This Earth on Turtle's Back: Contemporary American Indian Poetry" in 1983. The poem reflects on the lives of two women, the speaker's mother and grandmother, who lived past ninety. It paints a picture of their daily lives, including cooking on a wood stove and living in a "taken care of" world.
While the exact dates of composition are not specified, it can be inferred that "Sleeping in the Rain" and Henry's other poems published in 1983 were written between 1981 and 1983. This period coincides with Henry's time at Michigan State University, where he earned an MA in English and creative writing. The poems reflect Henry's personal artistic vision and voice, conveying the development of his literary style during his studies.
Henry's poetry often draws from his Indigenous heritage and cultural influences. For example, his first novel, "The Light People" (1994), explores Chippewa life and culture and incorporates elements of Chippewa oral storytelling traditions. Similarly, "Songs from This Earth on Turtle's Back" features Indigenous poetry, showcasing Henry's connection to his cultural roots.
In addition to "Sleeping in the Rain", Henry published several other poems in the early 1980s, including "Pine Point," "Waking on a Greyhound," "Leaving Smolce's Place," and "Outside White Earth." These poems, while not thematically unified, offer insights into Henry's artistic perspective and the evolution of his creative voice during this formative period.
Henry's work has been described as a "dreamscape charmed by powerful songs," blending prose autobiography and free verse to create evocative and imaginative landscapes. His poems invite readers to explore both intimate personal worlds and broader cultural narratives, reflecting his unique style and contribution to contemporary American Indian literature.
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The author, Gordon Henry Jr., is a professor at Michigan State University
Henry's first published poem, "Sleeping in the Rain," reflects on the lives of two women, one of whom is his mother, who lived past ninety and resided in a "taken care of" room. The poem also references the other woman's mother, who cooked on a wood stove and lived in a home heated by a gas or wood stove. The poem conveys the personal artistic vision and voice of the poet, offering a glimpse into his world and that of his mother and grandmother.
In addition to his editorial work, Henry has received numerous awards and accolades for his writing. His novel, "The Light People" (1994), was awarded The American Book Award in 1995. He has also co-authored a textbook, "The Ojibway" (2004), contributing essays on Native American culture. Henry's poetry has been published in anthologies such as "Songs From This Earth On Turtle's Back: Contemporary American Indian Poetry" (1983) and "Returning the Gift: Poetry and Prose from the First Native American Writers" (1994).
Henry's academic career includes earning his Ph.D. in Literature at the University of North Dakota and teaching at Ferris State University in Michigan before joining the faculty at Michigan State University. He has also held visiting professorships at Dartmouth College, teaching courses on Re-mapping Tribal Narratives, the American Indian Novel, Indian Country Today, and Digital Storytelling.
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Henry Jr. is an Anishinaabe of the White Earth Nation in Northwest Minnesota
Gordon Henry, Jr. is an Anishinaabe of the White Earth Nation in Northwest Minnesota. The Anishinaabe are the largest Indian group in Minnesota and refer to themselves as "the original people". The White Earth Nation is a federally recognized Native American band and is the largest of the six component bands of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, with 19,291 members in 2007. The Chippewa, also known as the Ojibwe, have a rich cultural history that predates European settlement in the region.
Henry Jr.'s first published poem, "Sleeping in the Rain", includes a woman "somewhere past ninety now". The poem takes the reader into the woman's room, where she lives in a "taken care of world". The speaker of the poem then reflects on their mother, who also lived to be ninety years old. The poem continues, describing the woman's mother, who cooked on a wood stove, while the speaker suspects that their mother and her siblings grew up with a wood-burning stove as well.
"Sleeping in the Rain" is part of a collection of original poems written mostly between 1981 and 1983. The poem was first published in "Earth Power Coming" by Navajo Community College Press in 1983. It takes the reader into the world of the speaker, reflecting on their family and their memories of their mother and grandmother.
In Part V of the poem, the speaker describes the woman's mother, who is cooking on a wood stove. The poem evokes a sense of place and culture, with references to the reservation, autumn, pine smoke, leaves, trees, and rain. The poem also explores themes of aging, family, and the passage of time through its depiction of three generations of women: the old woman, her mother, and the speaker's reflection on their own mother.
Through his poetry, Henry Jr., as an Anishinaabe of the White Earth Nation, contributes to the rich cultural history of his community and shares his unique perspective and experiences with readers.
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The poems are influenced by his experiences and heritage
Gordon Henry Jr. is an Anishinaabe of the White Earth Nation in Northwest Minnesota and an enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota. His father was in the U.S. Navy, and Henry grew up on military bases. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, Parkside, an MA in English and creative writing from Michigan State University, and a PhD from the University of North Dakota. He is a professor of English at Michigan State University and editor of the American Indian Studies Series at Michigan State University Press.
Henry's first published poem, "Sleeping in the Rain," includes a woman "somewhere past ninety now." The poem describes the woman's dream, in which she is on a reservation in the autumn. The poem also mentions pine smoke, leaves in the wind, and skeletal trees. In an interview, Henry reflected on his writing process, stating that he started writing in private after high school. He wrote fragments that he considered poems, despite having no formal training in creative writing. Henry also discussed the influence of his experiences and heritage on his poetry, acknowledging the risk involved in disclosing personal heartache and longing through imagery and sense remembrance.
Henry's poems are influenced by his experiences and heritage as a member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe. His poem "Sleeping in the Rain" draws on his cultural background, as evidenced by the inclusion of traditional elements such as the reservation and autumnal imagery. Henry's academic pursuits further shaped his poetry, as he engaged with Native American literature and taught classes on remapping tribal narratives. The interplay between his personal and academic explorations of indigenous culture and history likely enriched the depth and authenticity of his poetic expressions.
Henry's work has been recognized and celebrated in various anthologies, including "Songs from This Earth on Turtle's Back: Contemporary American Indian Poetry" (1983) and "Returning the Gift: Poetry and Prose from the First Native American Writers" (1994). His novel "The Light People" (1994) won the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. Henry's writing style incorporates prose autobiography and free verse, as noted by Heid Erdrich, who described his work as a "dreamscape charmed by powerful songs."
In conclusion, Gordon Henry Jr.'s poems, including "Sleeping in the Rain," are deeply influenced by his experiences and heritage as a member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota. His writing explores personal and cultural themes, reflecting his indigenous background and academic interests in Native American literature and tribal narratives. Henry's literary contributions have earned him a notable place in the world of poetry, with his works providing unique insights into the indigenous experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Gordon Henry Jr. is an Anishinaabe and an enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota. He is also a professor of English at Michigan State University.
"Sleeping in the Rain" is a collection of original poems written by Gordon Henry Jr., for the most part between 1981 and 1983.
The poem features an old woman who dreams of being up north, on the reservation. It is autumn, and the poem describes the pine smoke hanging over the houses and the leaves sleepwalking in the gray wind.
The title "Sleeping in the Rain" could be symbolic of the woman's situation, with the rain representing sadness, hardship, or a difficult journey.
