by Jennifer Elise Foerster | Guest Editor

Janice Gould

For this inaugural edition of Poetry Northwest’s “Native Poets Torchlight Series,” I am honored and excited to be able to highlight one of my favorite poets, Janice Gould, who is a highly respected and influential voice among contemporary Native American poets. I live part of the year in Colorado Springs and always look forward to sharing a long walk and talking with Janice, whose quiet insights are powerfully illuminating. It is a pleasure to share one of our conversations and a few of her poems here with you, and to invite you to discover her heart-opening work.

About the Series

This series is created with the intention of celebrating contemporary Native American poets and extending their reach to an ever-widening circle of readers. Produced quarterly, this torchlight series will pass the fire among emerging and established poets, to share in conversation and to illuminate the diversity of styles and voices among Native poets writing today. The series was envisioned by Associate Editor Keetje Kuipers and the editors of Poetry Northwest, and is curated by poet and Guest Editor Jennifer Elise Foerster.