Poetry Review 12 

19 Varieties of Gazelle

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Bibliography

Nye, N.S. (1994). 19 varieties of gazelle. Greenwillow Books: An imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.

Summary

19 Varieties of Gazelle is a collection of 57 poems about about Nye’s perceptions growing up Palestinian-American. The poems are written in free verse and compiled into a sort of biographical novel memoir. Most poems take up 2-3 pages and are divided into two separate sections. A few poems have multiple sections themselves. Later editions of the book include an introduction by the author and reaction to 9/11. The book was published before that event, and it foreshadowed as well as contextualized some themes, hopes, and grievances played throughout modern decades. A few topics, length and diction of poems, and length of 142 pages make the book appropriate for Ages 13+ or Grades 8+. Nye’s perspectives are very unique in that she was among few Middle Eastern authors who penned poetry in the English language. Along with global and political focus on the Middle East, her voice has come to represent her family as well as many people of her nation, both the United States and Palestine.

Nye captures powerful phrasing and thoughts, “someone with sky and birds in his heart / said this would be a good place for a park” (“Lunch in Nablus City Park”). Her voice is confident and strong, certain as she witnesses life around her, whether interacting with her father in Texas or relatives and family members and friends in Palestine. Being a first-generation American, her perspective interweaves with a father’s longing for homeland and exploring roots in his homeland. Ripe with symbolism, many reoccur throughout the poems: father, birds, figs, sewing, grandmother, lemon and olive trees, getting out the stains. While much of the theme and imagery rings clear, there is much loosely connected verse for the reader. Pressing lips together may seem vague in one poem, but within the context of others, you may interpret the act as tasting and drinking (another recurring theme). Even though much of the connecting may be abstract or unclear, (I read it twice, perhaps more passes may help), messages and longings emerge as do the grievances and the hope. With more shaping if not clarity, the book likely would have won numerous awards. However, it allowed (and still speaks) just as Nye’s grandmother would have wanted because the universal message for her father’s specific and beloved homeland remains relevant. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award. 

Analysis

At first, I was going to share a painful poem that impacted me regarding the theme of washing out the color and stains of delicate and cherished textiles and fabrics. However, I came across a poem that struck me with its symbolism, even causing me to make personal connections. The ducks, of course, act as a symbol for people. I think the ducks may represent her parents or family, even the books are personified and may symbolize people. The woman sounds a lot like me.

“We thought of ourselves as people of culture. How long will it be till others see us that way again?”  –Iraqi friend

Ducks

In her first home each book

had a light around it.

The voices of distant countries

floated in through open windows,

entering her soup and her mirror.

They slept with her in the same thick bed.

Someday she would go there.

Her voice, among all those voices.

In Iraq a book never had one owner–it had ten.

Lucky books, to be held often

and gently, by so many hands.

Later in American libraries she felt sad

for books no one ever checked out.

She lived in a country house beside a pond

and kept ducks, two male, one female.

She worried over the difficult relations

of triangles. One of the ducks

often seemed depressed.

But not the same one.

During the war between her two countries

she watched the ducks more than usual.

She stayed quiet with the ducks.

Some days they huddled among reeds

or floated together.

She could not call her family in Basra

which had grown farther away than ever

nor could they call her. For nearly a year

she would not know who was alive,

who was dead.

The ducks were building a nest.

Spotlight Activity

Like the poem above, Nye occasionally used a quote from someone–famous, not famous, personal, not personal–to inspire or introduce her poem. One great activity for students would be to use a quote to either inspire or incorporate a poem. Think of responding to a quote, one that makes you angry or enlightened. My favorite from Nye’s book was said by William Carlos Williams: “Think of something you said. Now write what you wish you had said.”

Always within the middle school curriculum, there is study and writing for family, generations, community history and heritage as well as traditions. This, too, may inspire great poems.