Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The two-part poem, "Crazy Horse Speaks: 6 & 7," by Sherman Alexie critically tackles the dehumanization and exploitation of indigenous peoples, mainly focusing on a tragic event where Eskimos were made part of a living exhibit in a New York museum. Through the voice of Crazy Horse, a significant Native American figure, the poem bridges the historical suffering of indigenous peoples across different cultures and times.

In part 6, the mention of a "museum in New York" immediately conjures notions of spectacle and exhibition. When cultural artifacts or peoples are placed in a museum, they are often stripped of their context and meaning, made to exist solely for the gaze of others. The poem recounts how five Eskimos were "flown in to be a living exhibit," only to suffer from a lack of "natural immunity." Three died, their hearts described as "miles / and miles of thin ice." This metaphor not only captures the fragility of their lives but also resonates with the harsh, icy landscapes they would have called home, contrasting it sharply with the alien environment of a museum. The three "dead Eskimo were stuffed and mounted," a chilling act of dehumanization, treated as though they were no more than animal specimens.

Starkly visual is the image of the "two living" Eskimos holding their "thin hands / close to their chests," described as "mortal and sinless." This phrase underscores the poem's critique of a society that can be so callously indifferent to the suffering of others. They are mortal, vulnerable to the same existential risks as any human being, and sinless, innocent of the "crime" of being different.

Part 7 of the poem consists of a single line: "Whenever it all begins again / I will be waiting." These words can be interpreted as a call to vigilance. While the tragedies of the past are immutable, the sentiment here implies that history can, unfortunately, repeat itself. Crazy Horse's voice serves as a collective conscience, "waiting" to bear witness and call out injustices whenever they recur.

The structure of the poem, particularly its division into two distinct parts, serves to separate but also link two types of experiences: the concrete historical account and the timeless, haunting voice that observes and waits. Both elements reinforce each other, amplifying the poem's overall impact.

"Crazy Horse Speaks: 6 & 7" extends Alexie's critique of the systems and attitudes that have led to the marginalization and exploitation of indigenous peoples. The poem acts as a sobering reminder of the severe consequences of dehumanizing practices, urging readers to confront the ways in which history can insidiously shape-and misshape-our understanding of humanity.

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