Totem Sonnets

Of all the poems in Alexie’s book, none confused me more than the Totem Sonnets. I already have little inherent disposition towards understanding poetry. Sherman Alexie’s poems are especially difficult as they require not only a basic understanding of his life and culture, but they also require the reader to dig deeper in interpreting metaphors and seeking out clues in his other poetry. Yet, when we discussed the poetry in class today, I found these sonnets to be perhaps some of my favorite poems of The Summer of the Black Widows. He was able to convey so many deep and beautiful messages through such simplistic arrangement of words. As so many of his poems, the art was not in the language itself but in the ideas he conveyed. This type of poetry requires the reader to be actively engaged in the work, rather than a passive spectator. Each poem keys in to so many truths about the reality that Alexie has seen throughout his life in the mere arrangement of prominent figures and objects. He inferentially discusses the ideas of segregation in America, search for identity, gender roles, culturally roots and injustices he sees on the reservation simply by his arrangement of lists. Even though I thought it wouldn’t be possible upon first reading Alexie’s poetry, I am beginning to understand and appreciate his style. I enjoy that so many of his poems build on one another, even telling one cohesive story from beginning to end. I look forward to seeing how the story ends at the end of the “storm."