Question

Read the poem, Trail of Tears, and complete questions

Poem: There's a trail of tears
Flowing from our homeland
Washing out the years
Drowning out the red man.
There's a broken heart beating like a funeral drum,
A nation torn apart,
So one can be born.
There's a memory
That the eagle holds high
When we were free
As the wind in the sky.
There's a feeling inside
That stirs our madness
To have a chosen life
In the fields of sadness.
There are some empty teepees
Falling into dust
Like an endangered species
We're losing way too much
We are a world forgotten
Pushed aside and left alone
But comes a time when we will rise again.
Oh Great One, hear our prayers and our song.

QUESTIONS:
a. What is the tone of this poem? What examples can you use to show your point of view?
b. What inference can you make about the identity of the author?
c. What story is the author telling the reader?

Answer 1

The tone of the poem is mournful and defiant. The author is likely a Native American from a tribe affected by the Trail of Tears. The poem tells the story of the Trail of Tears and reflects on the suffering and hope of the Native American communities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The tone of this poem can be described as mournful and defiant. The use of words like 'trail of tears,' 'broken heart,' 'nation torn apart,' and 'fields of sadness' evoke a sense of sadness and loss. At the same time, the poem also expresses resilience and determination, with phrases like 'when we will rise again' and 'Oh Great One, hear our prayers and our song.' The poet is both lamenting the past and looking forward to a future of hope and restoration.

Based on the content of the poem, it can be inferred that the author is someone who belongs to the Native American community, specifically the tribe that experienced the forced relocation known as the Trail of Tears. The use of phrases like 'our homeland,' 'red man,' and the emphasis on losing 'way too much' suggest a personal connection to the events described in the poem.

The author is telling the reader the story of the Trail of Tears, which was the forced relocation of Native American tribes, particularly the Cherokee, from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States to designated areas in the west, now known as Oklahoma. The poem reflects on the loss and suffering endured by the Native American communities during this dark period in history, but it also expresses a sense of resilience and the hope for a better future.