Rangikura; an Indigenous Poetry Book Review

Rangikura is a collection of poems and short poetic stories by a contemporary Māori author, Tayi Tibble. Each poem holds a beautiful rawness which draws the reader deeper into the life of the writer. 

Although the author does not state Rangikura is autobiographical, it reads as if it is the author’s life story. At times the poems have no punctuation, a smattering of punctuation, or poems that resemble stories. All rules of writing have been thrown to the wind and I love it in this wild whirlwind of emotion.

Tibble’s writing style brings about this sense of uninhibited, sensual wildness that runs throughout the book. Make no mistake, this is adult poetry. Profanity punctuates key points, while the author tackles topics of sexuality. This evidence may be found as early as the first poem, Tohunga.

These poems are not quiet, ruminating words to be read on a Sunday afternoon at the library but should be read aloud with intense dynamics to an audience of one or 100.

Tibble’s writing mesmerized my spirit from the first word and led to my reading the entire book in one sitting. I also gave a poetry reading to my husband, my audience of one, from various selections in the book. He enjoyed it and my enthusiasm for this work.

Desiring to review works from Indigenous writers, I sought out options with only “Indigenous poetry” as my parameters. I believe the Māori gods brought me to this powerful collection as the first suggestion offered to me.

There is a poem in the book, Te Araroa, which speaks of discrimination that the author has been made to feel intensely because of Tibble’s Indigenous heritage. The raw brutality of the discrimination faced by the author broke me to tears.

Although the poetry had various traditional Māori words and beliefs throughout the work, it did not hinder my understanding of the work. In fact, these qualities enhanced the magic of the words. 

Rangikura is definitely a book for adults only, with lush, sultry, powerful and beautifully uplifting poems. I easily classify this collection of powerful stanzas as the new poetry lover’s classic.

Find more poetry book reviews right here at the MockingOwl Roost.

• The Night Library of Sternendach
• The Drum That Beats Within Us
• Pastoral Suite
• Your Words, Your World
• Some Things I Still Can’t Tell You

Sue Cook

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Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.

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