So I’ve just finished reading/listening to “38”, a poem by Native American Poet Layli Long Soldier, and I have to say that was one of the most intriguing poems I’ve ever read. The reason being that it was written differently than the poems I have grown accustomed to reading. Usually when I think of a poem, I think of rhyming, lots of vivid imagery, and overall a beautiful message. Although this poem contained some similar aspects of past poems I read such as imagery and containing a beautiful messauge, it was quite frankly pretty dark in nature. The imagery described horrific murder essentially and delivered a somber message. As for the way it was read, it was delivered in a slow manner, with the motive of really getting the message across each sentence being apparent. As for the language used, she didn’t over complicate and got straight to the point with her language. It was simple and I think that was the purpose, as she was trying to prove a point the entire time. As for the phrase, “everything is in the language we use”, a lot can be said. For one, the author was trying to convey a serious message. She didn’t want to confuse or have the reader think really hard. She used simple language, thus the message was clear from the get-go. As for what was said before and after the phrase, she was explaining words that contain deep meaning that one might’ve just brushed off. Although the words don’t seem difficult in the sense of tough comprehension, the simplicity of them add such value to her overall message, such as when she explains Minnesota’s name and the definition of treaty. Long Soldier wants us to understand that everything is hidden in plain sight. As she mentioned before, everything comes to a full circle and everything connects with one another, even if it may not seem that way. And that everything we say has deep meaning, even if it may seem simple, we can make it have deeper meaning.
3 thoughts on ““38””
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Great point on how everything is hidden in plain sight. As Long Soldier mentioned in her poem, the tragedy of the 38 Dakota men occurred in the same week as when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. But today, we’re more likely to have heard of the Emancipation Proclamation as opposed to the mass execution. What we’re taught today keeps us in an unified line, if you will. What we don’t see is that this line loops around, forming a circle. The only way to see the bigger picture is to leap out of conformity and acknowledge the lesser known side of every story.
Firstly, its great how you started your response comparing this poem with the other poems you’ve encountered in the past. It really draws a clear line between the types, and provides a clear insight into the poem’s uniqueness. Also yes, although the words in the poem may sound simple, the way it was read made it seem each sentence and word has hidden values within them that are underappreciated in modern day.
You described Long Soldier’s style as simple and straightforward when she described Minnesota’s name and the definition of treaty and I agree with you. I think this allowed the audience to understand her message more clearly. I like how you mentioned that she wanted for us, as the audience, to understand that many things are hidden from our sight. The 38 Dakota men were one of the largest “legal” executions by the government but yet not many people know about it.