After and Before the Lightning

After and Before the Lightning follows the reflections of a Native American speaker during winter on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The book takes the form of journal entries written between December and March, documenting daily observations and memories. Through prose and poetry, the narrative captures life on the reservation, the natural cycles of the land, and the intersection of contemporary Native American life with ancestral traditions. The speaker's entries range from mundane daily activities to spiritual experiences and philosophical contemplations. The text moves between descriptions of winter weather, wildlife encounters, conversations with locals, and meditations on history and culture. Native American perspectives on time, nature, and community emerge through specific moments and observations rather than broad generalizations. The work explores themes of cultural identity, humans' relationship with the natural world, and the continuity between past and present in Native American life. The journal format allows multiple layers of meaning to emerge organically through the accumulation of daily experiences and observations.

Readers value Ortiz's intimate portrayal of life on the Rosebud Reservation throughout the seasons, particularly his observations of nature and reflections on Native American identity. Several reviewers note how the poems capture both personal experiences and broader cultural significance through specific details like snow geese migrations and family relationships. What readers liked: - Connection between natural cycles and human experience - Authentic voice and cultural perspective - Vivid sensory details and imagery - Balance of personal and universal themes What readers disliked: - Some poems felt disconnected or hard to follow - Narrative thread not always clear - A few readers found certain sections repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 reviews) "The poems paint such a clear picture of reservation life through the seasons" - Goodreads reviewer "His observations of nature are precise and meaningful" - Amazon reviewer

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🌩️ Simon Ortiz wrote this collection during a winter stay on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, weaving together personal observations with Lakota history and culture. 📝 The book's poems serve as both a diary and meditation, tracking the author's daily experiences from winter solstice to spring equinox. 🏔️ Throughout the work, Ortiz explores connections between Native peoples - bridging his own Acoma Pueblo heritage with the Lakota communities he encounters. ⚡ The title references the Lakota belief that thunder beings (Wakinyan) arrive with spring storms, marking nature's renewal after winter. 📚 Published in 1994, this book helped establish Ortiz as one of the most significant voices in contemporary Native American literature, particularly in his ability to blend traditional and modern perspectives.