Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Crazy Horse Speaks: 2" by Sherman Alexie continues to explore the tangled relationship between Crazy Horse, a revered Native American leader, and General George Armstrong Custer, a symbol of American colonial aggression. While the first poem in this series focused on a shocking revelation and spiritual reckoning, the second offers a nuanced look at the psychological complexities that the historical conflict engenders.

The poem opens with an unequivocal claim: "Little Big Horn does not belong to me." This line raises questions about ownership, agency, and the narratives surrounding historical events. While Crazy Horse was one of the key figures in the Battle of Little Big Horn, he resists the burden of sole responsibility for the event and its consequences.

The imagery of the "horse" exploding beneath Crazy Horse adds layers of vulnerability and sacrifice to his character. Horses are often symbols of freedom and power in Native American cultures; their destruction serves as a metaphor for the disruption of the indigenous way of life.

The search for "Long Hair" (Custer) is laden with psychological complexities. Custer is referred to as "My Father," which could imply different things: a mocking nod to the paternalistic attitude of colonialists, an acknowledgment of the complex relationship between the colonizer and the colonized, or perhaps a more personal connection, shrouded in the complexities of identity and conflict.

The blank space in "it was _____________ / who poked holes in Custer's ears" stands as a powerful representation of erasure, anonymity, or the collective responsibility of an entire community rather than a single individual. It disrupts the narrative that seeks to find a single hero or villain, complicating our understanding of history and culpability.

The poem closes with an intense focus on survival, repeated thrice for emphasis. It's as if Crazy Horse is trying to distill the essence of his experience and that of his people into this single, powerful imperative: survive. The repetition also serves to highlight the emotional intensity and existential urgency that underscores the Native American experience.

In this poem, the line between enemy and family blurs, creating a surreal psychological landscape that reflects the intricate web of relationships, histories, and traumas connecting Native Americans and their colonizers. It shows that history is not merely a set of facts but a complex psychological tapestry that influences the present in ways that are often difficult to articulate. In giving voice to Crazy Horse, Alexie grapples with these complexities, compelling the reader to do the same.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...