Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Sherman Alexie's "Reservation Love Song" acts as a lyrical testimony to love on an American Indian reservation, interwoven with themes of poverty, systemic neglect, and resilience. Here, love is not idealized or romanticized; it is deeply rooted in the gritty realities of life, enmeshed with survival and hardship.

The protagonist offers a series of promises to his love, each couched within the limitations and opportunities of reservation life. "I can meet you in Springdale buy you beer & take you home in my one-eyed Ford" - this opening line sets the tone for the entire poem. The Ford is "one-eyed," already introducing us to the worn-down conditions of reservation life. There is an absence of luxury or even full functionality, but despite this, life-and love-go on.

Finances are tight, signaled by the mention of a HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) house and "free food from the BIA" (Bureau of Indian Affairs). These governmental bodies are meant to offer support but often contribute to a cycle of dependency and systemic disadvantage. The poem doesn't sidestep these difficulties but incorporates them as fundamental aspects of love on the reservation. It recognizes the flawed, imperfect nature of human lives and systems but suggests that love can be an equalizing force in spite of these limitations.

"I can buy you alcohol & not drink it all while you're away I won't fuck any of your cousins" - The lines carry an air of tragic comedy. Promises that might seem trivial or given in other contexts become significant pledges here. The mention of alcohol also links back to its complex role in reservation life, similar to Alexie's other works, where it serves as both comfort and poison. The line about not engaging with the loved one's cousins is steeped in both irony and reality, touching upon the intricacies and complications of close-knit community life.

The final stanza delves into the spiritual and the intimate. "They smell like grandmother hands digging up roots, they have powerful magic." Old blankets are infused with the scent and spirit of the past, a past that is both personal and cultural. These blankets offer more than just physical warmth; they provide a sense of continuity, of being linked to something greater. The "powerful magic" in them is not just superstition but a belief in the resilience and wisdom that have sustained the community.

In terms of form, the poem is written in free verse with no set rhyme or meter, mirroring the unpredictable and often harsh conditions of life on the reservation. The language is straightforward, devoid of any decorative elements. This stylistic choice serves to heighten the impact of the poem's message, making it all the more poignant.

In "Reservation Love Song," Sherman Alexie does not merely depict love as an escape from harsh realities but rather as a complex relationship deeply embedded within them. The poem navigates through systemic issues, familial complexities, and individual choices to offer a textured, unvarnished portrait of love. It suggests that in a world filled with imperfections and limitations, love itself becomes a complex negotiation, albeit one that is worth undertaking.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...