Dakota Dreaming
Dakota Dreaming returns us to the ancient core of poetry a spiritual quest. But this book offers no standard hero's journey--no daring descent int the underworld, no triumphant, hopeful return. It offers, rather, a gathering of visions received by one who has learned to dwell indefinitely in the liminal space between realms. While much of the collection in written in the Japanese haibun form, Buettner's imagery is rooted deep in North American prairie soil. Her poems are like "abandoned houses that let the gold of afternoon light filter in through open windows," offering some brief, imperfect respite for "those of us who have lost our way." And when the daylight fades and darkness becomes complete, Buettner guides us: "I borrow the light / of snow."
--Brendan Stermer, author of Forgotten Frequencies (NDSU Press, 2023)
"Dakota Dreaming returns us to the ancient core of poetry a spiritual quest. But this book offers no standard hero's journey—no daring descent into the underworld, no triumphant, hopeful return. It offers, rather, a gathering of visions received by one who has learned to dwell indefinitely in the liminal space between realms. While much of the collection is written in the Japanese haibun form, Buettner's imagery is rooted deep in North American prairie soil. Her poems are like 'abandoned houses that let the gold of afternoon light filter in through open windows,' offering some brief, imperfect respite for 'those of us who have lost our way.' And when the daylight fades and darkness becomes complete, Buettner guides us: 'I borrow the light / of snow.'"
—Brendan Stermer, author of Forgotten Frequencies (NDSU Press, 2023)
Born in Bismarck, North Dakota, Marjorie Buettner is an award-winning haiku, haibun, tanka, and sijo poet. Among her many awards are the James We. Hackett International Award for Haiku, the Robert Spiess Memorial Haiku Award, and the Kusamakura Haiku Competition. She taught haiku and tanka at The Loft Literary Center and presented poetry workshops throughout Minnesota. Marjorie is a former editor for Contemporary Haibun Online. Red Dragonfly Press published two of Marjorie's collections: Seeing It Now (haiku and tanka, 2008) and Some Measure of Existence (haibun, 2014). Some Measure of Existence won first place in the Mildred Kanterman Merit Book Awards through the Haiku Society of America.
Dakota Dreaming is the ninth chapbook to be published as NDSU Press’s annual Poetry of the Plains and Prairies Award, produced by publishing students on turn-of-the-twentieth-century hand-letterpress equipment at The Hunter Times (Bonanzaville, West Fargo, ND) and The Braddock News Letterpress Museum (South Central Threshing Assoc., Braddock, ND).
ISBN: 978-1-946163-69-1
Page Count: 40
Picture Count: 3
Paperback
Publication Year: 2024
