Weeping Buffalo: The True Story of America Anonymous College

When we think of Native Americans, we think of the fictionalized version we were taught as children: those who were met by the pioneers of the Mayflower, the founders of Thanksgiving, the hippy-dippy spiritualists. These ideas, much like the rest of history as taught by the American educational system, are lies created to make Americans out to be the heroes. In actuality, the lives of Native Americans were ruined for those of the time and for future generations by the actions of early American settlers and politicians. Mojave American poet Natalie Diaz explores the past and current lives of Native Americans in her poetry. Despite its brevity, Diaz’s “The Clouds Are Buffalo Limping toward Jesus” is able to concisely convey the truths behind the founding of the America we know today, as well as the long-term implications of it through the use of symbolism.

When reading this poem, it is important to include the title. Not much can be gathered from “weeping blooms of white smoke,” but if combined with the title, a whole sentence with deep meaning is created.

Buffalo were vital to the survival of Native Americans. They relied on them for food, shelter, tools, clothing, and even religious practices. For this reason, the U.S. military...