Harjo, Walcott, Schwartz Reflection

 Katharine Burris  

EN 376: Postcolonial Literature  

                                                          The Process of Reclaiming 

The search for a sense of belonging and the importance of moving past societal expectations to allow one’s identity to flourish is displayed within these three poems. This theme is also relevant to both Tia in Na Viro and everyday life. Firstly, Harjo’s “A Map to the Next World,” reflects the importance of cultural roots within one’s identity. One important line in this poem is “the map to the next world is in this world,” suggesting the ability for the present to impact the future. Therefore, this also assumes that the past has impacted one’s present view, and therefore including one's culture and heritage is essential to gain a complete view of one’s identity. This sense of heritage also leads to a sense of belonging, as Harjo states “but I was bound by sorrow to my people and could not do it.” This shows how individuals develop their sense of belonging around “[their] people.”  

Not only do these poems highlight the significance of culture within identity, but also the necessity of discovering one’s identity. Walcott’s “Love after Love” encourages readers to “peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.” Here, Walcott suggests the necessity of casting away external expectations for one’s identity to flourish. Once able to disregard other people’s opinions and perceptions of yourself, self-acceptance can thrive and allow for a greater sense of belonging. This reminded me of Na Viro, as Tia questioned how she could love herself in the beginning, but eventually discovered a sense of belonging within herself, which led her to display her identity without worry of being accepted by others.  

While Walcott emphasizes that “you will love again the stranger who was yourself,” Schwartz furthers this idea by suggesting that once this happens, the future can prosper. For example, she quotes that “the future strips the wallpaper and reveals the real beauty of what never needed to be improved upon.” As colonizers took not only the land, but also the identities and heritage from indigenous people, “the future is joyful” only when one learns to love themselves, and in turn blossom into a sense of belonging with others. Therefore, these poems encourage hope for the possibility of change in the future and the reclaiming and redefining of the identities that were stripped.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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