The History Lesson
"The History Lesson" is a retelling of Columbus' discovery of America from the perspective of Native Americans. The poem portrays the arrival of Columbus and his men as an invasion and an encroachment on Native lands. It mocks the idea of Europeans bringing civilization to America and claiming they discovered the land.
Indian Woman
This poem deals with the dehumanization and commodification of Native American women. In it, a narrator describes how she feels like she is only appreciated for her body's ability to bear children or its marketability and sex appeal. However, she explains that she is much more than that, and that she is connected with nature and the history of her tribe.
Artifacts
In this poem, Armstrong discusses how history can be warped to reflect the perspectives of those that tell it. To illustrate this point, she uses the example of an archeologist studying an artifact and constructing an incorrect history from it. She also makes a distinction between the idea of written history and the oral tradition of Native American history, claiming that the two can only be reconciled once the warped history is altered to reflect a more honest perspective.
