Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Simon J. Ortiz’s "Survival" is a brief yet profound meditation on endurance, tradition, and the cyclical nature of existence. As an Acoma Pueblo poet, Ortiz frequently explores themes of Indigenous resilience, the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, and the deep relationship between people and the land. In this poem, he distills these concerns into a rhythmic, almost incantatory structure that reinforces the connection between survival and the wisdom of experience.

The poem’s opening declaration—"Survival, I know how this way. This way, I know."—establishes a voice that is assured yet recursive, emphasizing the certainty of knowledge while also reflecting the act of reaffirmation. The repetition of “this way” suggests a guiding principle, a path shaped by tradition and lived experience. Ortiz’s syntactical inversion, which places emphasis on “this way” rather than a conventional phrasing like “I know how to survive this way,” creates a cadence reminiscent of oral storytelling. This subtle restructuring reinforces the poem’s grounding in Indigenous oral traditions, where repetition serves both as emphasis and a means of preserving collective memory.

The next lines—"It rains. Mountains and canyons and plants grow."—anchor the poem in the natural world. These elemental images suggest a deep, cyclical relationship between survival and the land. Rain, mountains, and vegetation are not just environmental details but essential forces that sustain life. The brevity of these statements mirrors the simplicity and inevitability of natural processes, emphasizing that survival is an organic continuation rather than an abstract struggle.

"We traveled this way, gauged our distance by stories and loved our children." Here, Ortiz merges physical movement with cultural continuity. The phrase “gauged our distance by stories” suggests that navigation—both literal and metaphorical—relies not only on physical landmarks but also on shared narratives. Stories are a form of measurement, a way to understand where one has been and where one is going. The connection between storytelling and survival underscores how history, wisdom, and identity are preserved through language. The inclusion of “loved our children” further expands this idea, linking survival not only to endurance but also to the act of nurturing and passing down knowledge. The placement of love at the heart of this journey affirms that survival is not merely about persistence but about the continuity of care, teaching, and cultural inheritance.

The next lines—"We taught them to love their births."—serve as both a declaration and an imperative. Teaching children to love their origins, to embrace where they come from, becomes a key part of ensuring survival. Ortiz suggests that survival is not just about the physical act of enduring hardships but about instilling pride and reverence for one’s roots. The emphasis on birth evokes a sense of renewal and continuity, reinforcing the idea that survival is not a singular event but an ongoing, generational process.

The poem concludes with a reaffirmation: "We told ourselves over and over again, 'We shall survive this way.'" This final statement mirrors the opening in its structure and repetition, bringing the poem full circle. The phrase “over and over again” reinforces the necessity of self-affirmation, particularly in the face of historical and ongoing struggles. The quotation marks around "We shall survive this way" suggest a communal declaration, an ancestral voice echoing through time. It is both a promise and a guiding principle, a way of living that has been sustained and will continue to be sustained.

Ortiz’s use of free verse and minimal punctuation allows the poem to flow naturally, evoking the rhythms of speech and oral tradition. The repetition of key phrases—"this way," "we traveled," "we told ourselves"—creates a structure that is both fluid and grounded, reinforcing the continuity of survival across generations. The poem’s brevity enhances its impact, distilling survival to its essence: knowledge, movement, love, and the telling of stories.

"Survival" is not simply about enduring; it is about maintaining identity, nurturing future generations, and affirming one’s connection to the land and to history. Ortiz transforms survival from a struggle into a declaration of belonging and purpose, emphasizing that survival is not passive but an active, deliberate way of living. The poem’s closing lines leave the reader with a sense of continuity and determination, a reminder that survival is not just about the past but about ensuring the future, one generation at a time.

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