This important and engaging book records the first acquaintance of poets from American Indian and Native Siberian cultures as they come to recognize their similar cultures, life-ways, and reverence for the natural world. The poetic dialogues contain a mutual recognition of kinsmen across centuries of mutual isolation. Perhaps their chief value is the declaration of fundamental human values, expressing the authors deepest aspirations as spokesmen for traditional cultures. As Alexander Vashchenko concludes in his commentary, "This poetic calling-forth offers an important lesson to all of us who...