Sherman

These poems by Alexie reminded me of stories, not poems. Out of all the poems assigned these year, these by Alexie were the easiest for me to follow. It seems that he is very proud of his heritage, but has strong feelings for his cultural and people. I really saw this through reading "Evolution".

...................................................................The Indians
pawn their hands, saving the thumbs for last, they pawn

their skeletons, falling endlessly from the skin
and when the last Indian has pawned everything
but his heart, Buffalo Bill takes that for twenty bucks

While researching Alexie and the time this poem was set I came across information that really helped me focus on the time and what was happening to the people.
By seizing the "heart" of the last Indian and subsequently closing the doors of the pawn shop, Buffalo Bill seals out the possibility of repossession. This act deprives the culture of its lifeblood. The new museum freezes "NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES" in place, on display, behind glass cases. The painted over sign recalls the years of government manipulation of Indians in which new treaties invalidated old ones that the U.S. no longer wished to honor. The glossing over of old wounds and forms of cultural exploitation--feeding a people someone else's idea of what they should be--cap this poem with the absurd reality of a perverse history.

Not knowing much about this act that was happening to the American Indians, Alexie's poems helped open my eyes to what the government and people were doing to the Natives. I can now see the hardships and problems these people faced.

I enjoyed his work, and look forward to reading more from him.

CJ