Funeral Tree of the Sokokis
The poem describes a tree that has witnessed the history of a Native American tribe, the Sokokis, and their struggles against European colonizers. The tree's branches are said to be adorned with the bones of the tribe's warriors who died in battle. The speaker reflects on the tree's significance as a symbol of the tribe's resilience and the devastating impact of colonialism.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1838 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Nature · 848 words
First lines
Polan, chief of the Sokokis Indians of the country between Agamenticus and Casco Bay, was killed at Windham on Sebago Lake in the spring of 1756. After the whites had retired, the surviving Indians "swayed" or bent down a young tree until its roots were upturned, placed the body of their chief beneath it, then released the tree, which, in springing back to its old position, covered the grave. The Sokokis were early converts to the Catholic faith. Most of them, prior to the year 1756, had removed to the French settlements on the St. Francois.
AROUND Sebago's lonely lake There lingers not a breeze to break The mirror which its waters make.
What this Textopian page supports
Funeral Tree of the Sokokis is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1838 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1838 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical, Nature, Spiritual, Cultural
- Length: 848 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
- Historical — The poem reflects historical events and cultural aspects of the Sokokis Indians and their interactions with colonizers.
- Nature — Nature imagery is prevalent throughout the poem, emphasizing the relationship between the land and the indigenous people.
- Spiritual — Themes of spirituality and reverence for the dead and nature are central to the poem's message.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry · 19th Century · New England · Autobiographical · Historical Fiction · Native American · Colonialism · Indigenous Peoples · Settler-Colonialism · Family Saga · Coming of Age