The house
In the poem entitled "Crimson Rambler’’, the narrator mentions a pair who lives inside a house and who are eventually attacked by a Rambler who infiltrates their house. The house is used in this poem as a symbol of marriage and thus the Rambler attacks the marriage of the two people living inside it.
The nickel
In America, a nickel is the smallest form of currency and many argue that it has no value. In the poem entitled "A Coin’’, the narrator mentions how the face of Indians, or rather their history, is put on one side of a nickel. The nickel is used here as a symbol of the general attitude with which the Americans treated the Indians. By mentioning the nickel the narrator wants to transmit the idea that the American society does not appreciate the Indian culture and history.
The buffalo
In the poem entitled "A Coin" the narrator mentions a buffalo that the Indians rely on. The buffalo is an important element in the poem and is used as a symbol for the Indian way of life and for the Indian spirit.
Symbol for power
In the poem entitled "Jerry’’, the main character is a woman who is abused by her husband. She talks about how she put up with his abuse for two years before she finally could not take it anymore and killed him. The woman killed him with a revolver and because of this, the revolver is used as a symbol of power and to suggest how weapons give every person the power to do harm or to protect themselves if it is necessary.
Symbol for depravation
In the poem named "Jerry’’, the reason why the man is violent is put to his alcohol consumption. The woman claims he was once a good man who took care of her but then he changed as time passed on until he became violent and she could no longer take it. Thus, alcohol is used here as a symbol of depravation and vices.
Dust
It symbolizes the enduring legacy of the buffaloes and how their presence has left a mark on the earth, even after they are gone. This can be seen as a metaphor for how the memory of significant events or beings can persist in the collective consciousness long after they have passed.
Dust is often associated with impermanence and the transitory nature of life. In the context of the poem, the buffaloes themselves were once a powerful and numerous force, but they too have disappeared, leaving only dust behind. This symbolizes the fleeting nature of existence and how even the mightiest of creatures or civilizations eventually come to an end.
