Poetry Unbound

Ray Young Bear — Our Bird Aegis

11 snips
Feb 9, 2024
This podcast explores the blend of the visceral, the inherited, and the self-made that holds our bodies together. It delves into the concerns and physical wounds of an immature black eagle and the speaker's experience of losing their younger brother. The symbolism and references in the poem are discussed, as well as themes of observation, emotional suppression, physical wounds, and human tragedy. The customs of suppressing emotions as a coping mechanism for grief are explored. The deep emotions and experiences conveyed through the physicality of the eagle and bear in the poem are examined, along with themes of identity, nation, sovereignty, and grief. Mention of the author's book 'Manifestation Wolverine' and podcast production credits.
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INSIGHT

Knowledge and the Unknown

  • We constantly accumulate knowledge, but there will always be things we don't know.
  • This lack of knowledge can be unsettling when trying to understand ourselves and the world.
INSIGHT

Initial Reactions to the Poem

  • Pádraig Ó Tuama was drawn to the poem "Our Bird Aegis" despite not understanding all its symbolism.
  • The poem's imagery, like the shifting footprints and the poignant ending, resonated with him.
ANECDOTE

The Story of a Name

  • Ray Young Bear's poem draws inspiration from his father's name, Makate Kei Tiwah, or Black Eagle.
  • His father, a bear-clan leader, also hesitated to ask his own father about the name's meaning.
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