Post by rahertz38 on May 21, 2012 19:20:53 GMT -5
Naomi Shihab Nye was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father, Aziz Shihab, was Palestinian, and her mother, Miriam Shihab, was American, so Nye grew up surrounded by a mix of cultures. Nye spent her adolescence in San Antonio, Texas and Jerusalem, which also added to her culturally immersed background. Nye went on to Trinity University, in San Antonio, and got a Bachelor’s degree in English.
Nye had always had a love for poetry. When she was very small, Nye’s mother would read books to her including Emily Dickinson, Aesop’s fables, and Little Woman. These books influenced Nye's writing, as did the culture she was exposed to as a child. As a child, Nye had her first poem published at age seven.
Now, as an adult Nye keeps a journal where she writes down her real experiences, which she uses to create many of her poems and books. Nye has said that, for her, “the primary source of poetry has always been local life…our own ancestry sifting down to us through small essential daily tasks,” which explains the root of her poetry. In her first full-length collection, “Different Ways to Pray” (1980), Nye explores the differences and similarities of cultures from California to Texas, from South America to Mexico. Nye explains, “I never get tired of mixtures.” This theme of integrating different cultures is very common in Nye’s body of work.
After the World Trade Center attack in 2001, Nye became an extremely active voice in speaking out about the discrimination and prejudice Arab-Americans were faced with. In 2002, Nye came out with the 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, which explored the discrimination Arabs dealt with. Nye’s goal in writing this book was to change the associations made with Arabs and terrorists, to Arabs and her kind, loving father. 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East received incredible reviews for its inspiring message. Publisher’s Weekly declared that it was “an excellent way to invite exploration and discussion of events far away and their impact here at home.”
Travel was always a very important aspect to Nye’s life. When Nye’s mother turned fifty she took her to Guatemala for a vacation without knowing anyone. When they reached a small village a woman said “Welcome home” in Spanish to them. Parallel to the woman in the village, Nye’s father, also her role model, welcomed everyone he knew with saying, “Hello friend.” This theme of acceptance and love for others is a very common theme throughout her work. In her most recent book, Transfer, Nye alludes to both these times through the poems of “Hello Palestine” and “Burlington, Vermont.” Throughout her life, Nye has traveled to Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Middle East, which allows her to have a better understanding of the world, and include it in her poetry.
Nye’s work of poetry has proven to be influential, and her accomplishments confirm her fantastic abilities with words. According to Library Journal contributor David Kirby, “Nye often pulls gold from the ordinary.” Nye’s cultural immersed and inspiring work is what keeps the reader satisfied and always wanting more.
I would like to thank Naomi Shihab Nye for coming out here tonight and sharing her poetry. It is my great pleasure to introduce the incredible Naomi Shihab Nye.
Word Count: 555
Nye had always had a love for poetry. When she was very small, Nye’s mother would read books to her including Emily Dickinson, Aesop’s fables, and Little Woman. These books influenced Nye's writing, as did the culture she was exposed to as a child. As a child, Nye had her first poem published at age seven.
Now, as an adult Nye keeps a journal where she writes down her real experiences, which she uses to create many of her poems and books. Nye has said that, for her, “the primary source of poetry has always been local life…our own ancestry sifting down to us through small essential daily tasks,” which explains the root of her poetry. In her first full-length collection, “Different Ways to Pray” (1980), Nye explores the differences and similarities of cultures from California to Texas, from South America to Mexico. Nye explains, “I never get tired of mixtures.” This theme of integrating different cultures is very common in Nye’s body of work.
After the World Trade Center attack in 2001, Nye became an extremely active voice in speaking out about the discrimination and prejudice Arab-Americans were faced with. In 2002, Nye came out with the 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, which explored the discrimination Arabs dealt with. Nye’s goal in writing this book was to change the associations made with Arabs and terrorists, to Arabs and her kind, loving father. 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East received incredible reviews for its inspiring message. Publisher’s Weekly declared that it was “an excellent way to invite exploration and discussion of events far away and their impact here at home.”
Travel was always a very important aspect to Nye’s life. When Nye’s mother turned fifty she took her to Guatemala for a vacation without knowing anyone. When they reached a small village a woman said “Welcome home” in Spanish to them. Parallel to the woman in the village, Nye’s father, also her role model, welcomed everyone he knew with saying, “Hello friend.” This theme of acceptance and love for others is a very common theme throughout her work. In her most recent book, Transfer, Nye alludes to both these times through the poems of “Hello Palestine” and “Burlington, Vermont.” Throughout her life, Nye has traveled to Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Middle East, which allows her to have a better understanding of the world, and include it in her poetry.
Nye’s work of poetry has proven to be influential, and her accomplishments confirm her fantastic abilities with words. According to Library Journal contributor David Kirby, “Nye often pulls gold from the ordinary.” Nye’s cultural immersed and inspiring work is what keeps the reader satisfied and always wanting more.
I would like to thank Naomi Shihab Nye for coming out here tonight and sharing her poetry. It is my great pleasure to introduce the incredible Naomi Shihab Nye.
Word Count: 555