Sherwin Bitsui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sherwin Bitsui
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| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) Holbrook, Arizona |
| Occupation | Writer, painter |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable works | Flood Song |
| Notable awards | American Book Award; PEN Open Book Award |
Sherwin Bitsui is a talented writer and poet from the Navajo nation. He is known for his amazing poems. His book of poems, Flood Song, which came out in 2009, won two big awards: the American Book Award and the PEN Open Book Award.
About Sherwin Bitsui
Sherwin Bitsui was born in 1974. He grew up in Whitecone, Arizona. He is a member of the Navajo people. His mother belonged to the Todichʼíiʼnii (Bitter Water Clan), and his father was from the Tłʼízíłání (Many Goats Clan).
He studied writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Over the years, Sherwin has received many special honors and grants for his poetry. These include awards from groups like the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry and the Lannan Foundation. In 2012, he received an Artist Fellowship in Literature from the NACF.
Sherwin has also taught creative writing at several universities. These include the University of Wyoming, the University of Montana, and San Diego State University. Since 2013, he has been a teacher at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Today, Sherwin lives in Tucson, Arizona.
His Writing Style
Sherwin Bitsui's poems have been published in many well-known magazines. Some of these include American Poet and The Iowa Review. His work has also appeared in collections of poems. These include Legitimate Dangers: American Poets of the New Century and Sing: Poetry from the Indigenous Americas.
A key idea in Bitsui's poems is how different values and ideas change. He explores how they feel and sound when expressed in the Navajo language compared to English. This makes his poetry very unique and thoughtful.
His book, Flood Song, was published in 2009. It won the American Book Award in 2010. His most recent book of poetry is Dissolve, which came out in 2018.
Published Books
Poetry Collections
- Dissolve, Copper Canyon Press. 2018. ISBN: 978-1-55659-5455
- Flood Song, Copper Canyon Press. 2009.
