On the Road of Stars: Native American Night Poems and Sleep Charms

by John Bierhorst

Book Overview

Native Americans regard night as a time for healing. Nighttime calls for sleep magic. John Bierhorst has assembled this unique assortment of sleep charms and poems from many different traditions... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0027097358
• ISBN13: 9780027097351
• Release Date: April 1994
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 10.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 6 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 7

Customer Reviews

Wonderful poems!

A hardcover book with terrific drwings and wonderful short poems. Here is the intro to the book:"Sleep magic is one of the gentler arts practiced by American Indian poets and song makers. Special combinations of words, called charms, are calculated to make people drowsy. Sleep songs, special words set to music, are meant to have the same effect, usually upon the very young and usually at nightfall. Native American traditionalists know that night is a time for healing, a time when plants grow, and a time for creative awakening - all of which may take place during sleep. Each of the night poems and sleep charms in this book has a definite purpose: to soothe, to heal, to bring dreams, or especially, to make sleep irresistable."The poems are all short, 3-5 lines each. Here's one called Gray Mouse:Gray mouse came at nightfall,Gray mouse came at nightfall,Came running in the darkness,Came breathing in the darkness.I just love this book! The poems are so simple, like haiku, yet the conjur up neat images. Some are funny images too. All have nature as their theme, all are soothing and comforing. There are poems (like Gray mouse), sleep charms/songs, and night prayers. Simply beautiful.