English - Students' Corner - Contributions - Smoke Signals

Ana's comment on the Books & Films Blog

Wow! Don't miss the S.S videos, please!!! I loved them all especially, "How do we forgive our fathers", the poem and music are really awesome. It is about the final scene of the book, where Sherman Alexie creates a very emotional atmosphere. I found this scene on the video a little bit less moving than that of the book, though. And the song is perfect! And in "Burning Scene" where the car starts after some failed attempts just when the fire in Arnold's trailer also starts is amazing! By the way, could anybody tell me what song is playing in the video, please? It's fantastic!

Read Ana's minisaga inspired on this scene

The song "Forgive Our Fathers Suite" was composed by B. C. Smith and in SS it is performed by the Northwest Sinfonia with the vocal group Ulali , who do a chant entitled "Wahjeeleh-Yihm" (I will carry you).

Thomas's speech is inspired in this poem by Dick Lourie, a poet and a blues musician (more on Dick Lourie).

How do we forgive our Fathers?
Maybe in a dream
Do we forgive our Fathers for leaving us too often or forever
when we were little?

Maybe for scaring us with unexpected rage
or making us nervous
because there never seemed to be any rage there at all.

Do we forgive our Fathers for marrying or not marrying our Mothers?
For Divorcing or not divorcing our Mothers?

And shall we forgive them for their excesses of warmth or coldness?
Shall we forgive them for pushing or leaning
for shutting doors
for speaking through walls
or never speaking
or never being silent?