Columbus Day

Jimmie Durham

Jimmie Durham’s subversive account of Columbus’s ill-omened voyage developed a lively underground reputation after its publication in 1983 and was republished to coincide with the events of the quincentennial celebration in 1992. The book features his poems, prose, drawings, and excerpts from his speeches, giving an overview of his place in his society, world society, time, and history.

“The mystical drawings complement these hard-edged, bitter, humorous, and always honest poems, which at their best are, as the writer intended, as eloquent as the sound of a rattlesnake.”—Peter Matthiessen

Let us then declare a holiday
For ourselves, and make a parade that begins
With Columbus’ victims and continues
Even to our grandchildren who will be named
In their honor.

Because isn’t it true that even the summer
Grass here in this land whispers those names,
And every creek has accepted the responsibility
Of singing those names? And nothing can stop
The wind from howling those names around
The corners of the school.

Why else would be birds sing
So much sweeter here than in other lands?

             —from “Columbus Day”

5½ x 8½ inches • 104 pages • ISBN 0-931122-30-9 • $8.95