“This is what I remember” – continuations in the poetry of Leslie Marmon Silko, Storyteller from Laguna Pueblo

Peer-reviewed article, Submitted 22.04.2025, Accepted 1.09.2025

Ewa Dżurak

ewa.dzurak@csi.cuny.edu
College of Staten Island, City University of New York (United States)

Abstract

Leslie Marmon Silko published Storyteller in 1981 (second edition 2012). This is her first work translated into Polish as Opowiadaczka z Puebla Laguna (2024). The format of the exceptional publication escapes genre classification and contains 8 short stories, over 20 poems, more than 20 short prose texts, and 26 black and white photos. The structure of the volume resembles a spider’s web, with radials of themes emerging from the centre and connecting concentric spiral threads of motifs. The book is, first and foremost, homage to the storytelling tradition of Laguna Pueblo and its culture. The presented article intends to familiarize readers with Leslie Marmon Silko and, in particular, to stress poetry strongly rooted in Laguna Pueblo culture.



Keywords:

Leslie Marmon Silko, storytelling, Pueblo Laguna, poetry, Southwest

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Published
2025-12-17

Cited by

Dżurak, E. (2025) “‘This is what I remember’ – continuations in the poetry of Leslie Marmon Silko, Storyteller from Laguna Pueblo”, Konteksty, 350(3), pp. 107–116. doi: 10.36744/k.4418.

Authors

Ewa Dżurak 
ewa.dzurak@csi.cuny.edu
College of Staten Island, City University of New York United States

Ewa Dżurak – etnografka, bibliotekarka. Pracuje w bibliotece w College of Staten Island (City University of New York). Przełożyła m.in. Dzieło i życie: antropolog jak autor Clifforda Geertza, Symbole naturalne Mary Douglas i Proces rytualny Victora Turnera, a także książkę Opowiadaczka z Puebla Laguna Leslie Marmon Silko. Jest członkinią zarządu Polish-American Ethnological Society / Polsko-Amerykańskiego Towarzystwa Etnograficznego.



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