A legacy of storytelling: Local author Louisa Bean finds inspiration across generations | Local News
SPEARFISH — Debra Bean has been writing poetry for as long as she can remember.
As a child, on a ranch near Colony, Wyo., Bean packed around a wide-ruled Big Chief Tablet notebook and a pencil her father sharpened with his jackknife, constantly quizzing her parents about spelling.
kAm“qJ E96 E:>6 x DE2CE65 D49@@=[ x 4@F=5 C625 2?5 HC:E6[” q62? D2:5] “x HC@E6 A@6ECJ 2?5 DE@C:6D[ x 5@?’E <?@H H92E 2 b 2?5 c 2?5 d\J62C\@=5 925 E@ HC:E6 23@FE[ 3FE x 5:5 :E]”k^Am
kAm%9:D H66<6?5[ q62? H:== 36 D:8?:?8 4@A:6D @7 96C 7:CDE AF3=:D965 A@6ECJ 4@==64E:@?[ “|J w62CE t49@6D[” 2E w6?CJ’D q@@<D 😕 $A62C7:D9] %9:D H:== 36 2 46=63C2E:@? @7 E96 3@@<’D =2F?49 2?5 E96 4F=>:?2E:@? @7 564256D @7 9@?:?8 96C 4C27E 2D 2 A@6E]k^Am
kAmq62?’D HC:E:?8 😀 492C24E6C:K65 3J 96C 72:E9[ 2?5 4@=@C65 3J 96C 6IA6C:6?46 @7 CFC2= =:76] x? 255:E:@? E@ 96C ?6H A@6ECJ 4@==64E:@?[ q62? 92D D6=7\AF3=:D965 D9@CE DE@CJ 4@==64E:@?D[ 2 56G@E:@?2=[ 2?5 EH@ ?@G6=D 32D65 @? E96 =:G6D @7 96C A:@?66C 2?46DE@CD]k^Am
kAmx? `gdd[ {@F:D2 q62?[ E96 2FE9@C’D 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?5>@E96C[ H2D A2CE @7 2 H28@? EC2:? E92E EC2G6=65 7C@> u2C>:?8E@?[ |2:?6[ E@ |FD42E:?6[ x@H2]k^Am
kAmq62? 7:CDE 6?4@F?E6C65 96C DE@CJ @? 2 9@E DF>>6C 52J]k^Am
kAm “x 42>6 😕 7C@> E96 92J 7:6=5[ H96? x H2D `d J62CD @=5 E@ 4@@= @77[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D E9:D 3:8 3@@< W:? E96 9@FD6X] xE H2D 23@FE E96 q62? 4=2? 7C@> $4@E=2?5] x H2D E9:?<:?8[ x H@?56C :7 >J 8C2?5525 😀 😕 E96C6n x 8@E E@ =@@<:?8 2?5 96 H2D] x H6?E 324< 2 =:EE=6 H2JD 2?5 D2H E9:D E:?J A2C28C2A9 23@FE {@F:D2[” q62? D2:5] “$96 H2D D@ <:?5] $96 H2D 2== 23@FE 96=A:?8 6G6CJ3@5J 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ E6249 E96:C <:5D <:?5?6DD 2?5 =@G6]”k^Am
kAm%96 A2CEJ {@F:D2 EC2G6=65 H:E9 H2D C@F89=J a__ H28@?D DEC@?8] (96? 49@=6C2 DE2CE65 E@ >2<6 :ED H2J E9C@F89 E96 8C@FA @7 A:@?66CD[ D:4< A6@A=6 H6C6 @7E6? =67E 369:?5]k^Am
kAm“(96? {@F:D2 962C5 23@FE D@>63@5J H:E9 :E H9@ 8@E =67E 369:?5 F?56C 2 EC66 @C 😕 2 H28@?[ D96’5 8@ 7:?5 E96> 2?5 ECJ E@ 96=A E96>[” q62? D2:5] “x ;FDE 25>:C65 E92E BF2=:EJ] %92E :??6C DEC6?8E9] $96 ;FDE 925 2 566A DEC6?8E9 2?5 2 566A 72:E9 😕 E96 {@C5] x C62==J 25>:C65 E92E]”k^Am
kAmq62? DA6?E J62CD E9:?<:?8 23@FE {@F:D2 2?5 96C DE@CJ 367@C6 D96 925 E96 492?46 E@ D:E 5@H? 2?5 HC:E6 :E] $96 D2:5 E96 DE@CJ 76=E =:<6 2 A2CE @7 96C[ 6G6? 2D D96 72465 EC:2=D E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 96C E@ =62? @? 96C @H? :??6C DEC6?8E9]k^Am
kAmu@C ag J62CD[ q62? 2?5 96C 6I\9FD32?5 C2:D65 49:=5C6?[ 42EE=6[ 2?5 9@CD6D @? E96:C C2?49] %96J @A6?65 2 82D DE2E:@? 2?5 427é 36EH66? !:6CC6 2?5 $EFC8:D[ H9:49 q62? >2?2865 F?E:= E96 A2:C 5:G@C465]k^Am
kAm“x 8@E 5:G@C465 @?6 J62C[ 2?5 E96 ?6IE J62C :E 3FC?65 5@H? @G6C?:89E[” q62? D2:5] “x E9@F89E[ ‘~9 >J 8@D9[ >J <:5D 2C6 C2:D65[ x 5@?’E 92G6 2 9FD32?5[ x 5@?’E 92G6 2 >62?D @7 =:G:?8]’ x ;FDE D2E E96C6 2?5 H2E4965 E92E A=246 3FC?]”k^Am
kAmq62? C@D6 7C@> E96 2D96D @7 E92E 6IA6C:6?46 E@ AFCDF6 2 8C@H:?8 :?E6C6DE 😕 >2DD286 E96C2AJ — 2 7:6=5 D96 H@F=5 8@ @? E@ H@C< 😕 AC@76DD:@?2==J 7@C >@C6 E92? `f J62CD]k^Am
kAm p7E6C D6G6C2= DE@AD 2?5 DE2CED @? 96C C@25 E@ C6E:C6>6?E[ q62? 7:?2==J D2E 5@H? E@ HC:E6 {@F:D2’D DE@CJ] $96 :>28:?65 AFEE:?8 A6? E@ A2A6C[ =2C86=J 7@C E96 36?67:E @7 96C 49:=5C6?] $96 5:5?’E 6IA64E E@ HC:E6 2 3@@<]k^Am
kAm“x ;FDE H2?E65 E@ E6== E9:D DE@CJ[ 7@C >J <:5D 2?5 8C2?5<:5D E@ C625 23@FE E96 DEC@?8 H@>6? 😕 @FC =:?6[” q62? D2:5]k^Am
kAm(96? “{@F:D2 q62?” H2D 7:?:D965[ q62? H2D 6?4@FC2865 3J 7C:6?5D E@ AF3=:D9 E96 G@=F>6[ 2?5 2 76H >@?E9D =2E6C[ D96 HC@E6 :ED D6BF6= “@F:D2’D 6824J” 23@FE 96C 8C62E\8C2?572E96C 2?5 @F:D2’D D@? y@9?]k^Am
kAmq62? 5C6H @? 96C @H? =:76 6IA6C:6?46 E@ 96=A 3C:?8 3@E9 ?@G6=D E@ =:76]k^Am
kAm“@H[ q62? 92D 96=A65 4F=E:G2E6 E92E D2>6 :?E6C6DE 😕 96C 8C2?552F89E6CD]k^Am
kAm“@[ J@F A:4<]’ p== E96D6 :562D DE2CE 4@>:?8 :?E@ >J 9625] $96 E6IE65 324< =2E6C 2?5 D2:5[ ‘vC2?5>2 x E9:?< H6 D9@F=5 HC:E6 23@FE EH@ 8:C=D H9@ 2C6 36DE 7C:6?5D]’”k^Am
kAm%@86E96C[ q62? 2?5 96C 8C2?552F89E6C HC@E6 “%96 #@D6 r@??64E:@?” 23@FE EH@ J@F?8 8:C=D 8C@H:?8 FA 😕 E96 =2E6 `hc_D 2?5 62C=J `hd_D]k^Am
kAmq62? HC@E6 7C@> E96 A6CDA64E:G6 @7 @?6 @7 E96 492C24E6CD[ 2?5 96C 8C2?552F89E6C HC@E6 7C@> E96 A6CDA64E:G6 @7 E96 @E96C] @H[ E96 2FE9@C DA62<D @7 E92E 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 >:CE9 2?5 56D4C:36D 96C 8C2?552F89E6C’D HC:E:?8 H:E9 AC:56]k^Am
kAmq62? 92D 5233=65 😕 HC:E:?8 49:=5C6?’D 3@@<D 7@C 96C 8C2?5D@?D 2?5 😀 D:I 492AE6CD :?E@ E96 AC@46DD @7 HC:E:?8 96C ?6IE ?@G6= — 23@FE 2 =6EE6C E92E 2CC:G6D c` J62CD E@@ =2E6]k^Am
kAmq62? D2:5[ D96 >2J’G6 @?=J DE2CE65 HC:E:?8 😕 96C C646?E C6E:C6>6?E[ 3FE D96 >:89E ;FDE 92G6 a_ >@C6 3@@<D 😕 96C]k^Am
kAm“x 2> D@ G6CJ 3=6DD65] |J HC:E:?8 😀 2 8:7E 7C@> v@5] x 4@F=5?’E 5@ :E H:E9@FE 9:>[” q62? D2:5]k^Am
k5:G DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQ 52E2\>46\DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQm$:?46 `gfe[ E96 q=24< w:==D !:@?66C 92D 366? 2 =@42==J @H?65 U2>Aj @A6C2E65 ?6HDA2A6C] k^5:Gm
k5:G DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQ 52E2\>46\DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQm%@ C625 2== @7 @FC DE@C:6D k^5:Gm
k5:G DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQ 52E2\>46\DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQmk2 52E2\>46\9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]39A:@?66C]4@>^DF3D4C:36^Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]39A:@?66C]4@>^DF3D4C:36^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr=:4< w6C6k^2mk^5:Gm
k5:G DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQ 52E2\>46\DEJ=6lQ42C6E\4@=@Ci R______j 4@=@Ci R______j 7@?E\72>:=Ji w6=G6E:42j 7@?E\D:K6i `aAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\G2C:2?E\42ADi ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei c__j =6EE6C\DA24:?8i ?@C>2=j @CA92?Di 2FE@j E6IE\2=:8?i DE2CEj E6IE\:?56?Ei _AIj E6IE\EC2?D7@C>i ?@?6j H9:E6\DA246i ?@C>2=j H:5@HDi 2FE@j H@C5\DA24:?8i _AIj \H63<:E\E6IE\DEC@<6\H:5E9i _AIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQm~C 42== @FC @77:46 😕 $A62C7:D9[ $s 2E We_dX eca\afe` E@ DF3D4C:36] (6 @776C 2? p==\p446DD !2DD W:?4=F5:?8 92C5 4@AJX[ @C s:8:E2= ~?=J !2DDk^5:Gm
link
