Welcome to an insightful exploration of Marc McCord’s poignant poem, “Cherokee Rose.” This powerful work delves into a significant chapter of American history, weaving together themes of loss, resilience, and remembrance through vivid imagery and compelling poetic devices. Prepare to uncover the layers of meaning embedded within this evocative tribute, understanding its historical context and its enduring message.
Seven petals for seven tribes
growing on the trail where they cried.
Center of gold for the land white men stole.
Four thousand of my ancestors died.The trail was long, the journey harsh
crossing a thousand miles of mountain and marsh
and in the place where proud people those
cried the tears that watered Cherokee Rose.Oh Spirit Wolf, oh Spirit Owl
hear the winter winds that howl.
Oh Spirit Eagle, oh Spirit Deer
why did so many have to die here?One nation prospered, one nation fell.
One went to heaven, one was sent to hell.
Cherokee Rose that blooms in spring
reminds us of the songs they sing.White petals, a sign of those tears
that still wet the ground after a hundred fifty years
remind us all of what was lost
from proud people who bore the ultimate cost.Seven petals for seven tribes
growing on the trail where they cried.
Center of gold for the land white men stole.
Four thousand of my ancestors died.
Cherokee Rose Summary: A Poetic Testament to Resilience and Loss
Marc McCord’s “Cherokee Rose” stands as a moving poetic testament to the profound suffering endured by the Cherokee people during their forced migration, historically known as the Trail of Tears. The poem mythically portrays this arduous journey, where the tears of a displaced nation are said to have watered the very ground from which the Cherokee Rose emerged. It serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of colonialism and racial discrimination, highlighting the tragic contrast between the prosperity of one nation and the catastrophic decline of another. The Cherokee Rose itself, with its distinct features, becomes a powerful symbol of enduring memory and the ultimate cost paid by a proud people.
The central idea of “Cherokee Rose” revolves around the themes of historical injustice, the pain of forced displacement, and the enduring spirit of the Cherokee Nation. It commemorates the thousands of ancestors who perished during the Trail of Tears, a thousand-mile journey across mountains and marshes. The poem questions the divine or spiritual forces regarding the immense loss of life, contrasting the fortunes of the colonizing nation with the devastating fate of the indigenous people. Ultimately, the Cherokee Rose, blooming each spring, becomes a living memorial, its white petals symbolizing the tears shed and its golden center representing the stolen land, ensuring that the memory of what was lost and the songs of those who suffered are never forgotten.
A Deep Dive into “Cherokee Rose”: Analysis of Themes and Literary Devices
The poem “Cherokee Rose” is a rich tapestry of historical narrative and emotional depth, skillfully woven through its thematic concerns and the deliberate application of literary and poetic devices. Understanding these elements unlocks the full power of McCord’s message.
The Heart of the Poem: Central Themes in “Cherokee Rose”
The poem explores several powerful themes that resonate deeply with readers:
Colonialism and Dispossession: At its core, “Cherokee Rose” confronts the brutal reality of American colonialism. The lines
Center of gold for the land white men stole.
Four thousand of my ancestors died.
directly address the theft of land and the catastrophic loss of life that resulted from the expansionist policies of white settlers. The poem vividly portrays the forced migration, known as the Trail of Tears, as a journey of immense hardship and sorrow.
Loss and Suffering: The pervasive theme of loss is evident throughout the poem, encompassing not only the loss of life but also the loss of land, culture, and sovereignty. The imagery of tears watering the ground underscores the profound suffering:
cried the tears that watered Cherokee Rose.
The poem laments the ultimate cost borne by a proud people, emphasizing the enduring pain that echoes through generations.
Resilience and Remembrance: Despite the overwhelming sorrow, the poem also speaks to the resilience of the Cherokee spirit and the importance of remembrance. The Cherokee Rose itself becomes a symbol of this enduring spirit, blooming annually as a living memorial. The lines
Cherokee Rose that blooms in spring
reminds us of the songs they sing.
suggest that even in the face of tragedy, the culture and memory of the Cherokee people persist, carried forward through their stories and songs.
Injustice and Inequality: The stark contrast presented in the lines
One nation prospered, one nation fell.
One went to heaven, one was sent to hell.
highlights the profound injustice inherent in the historical events. It questions the moral implications of one nation’s prosperity coming at the devastating expense of another, underscoring the deep inequality that defined this period.
Crafting Meaning: Literary and Poetic Devices in “Cherokee Rose”
Marc McCord employs a range of literary and poetic devices to enhance the emotional impact and thematic depth of “Cherokee Rose.”
Symbolism: The poem is rich with symbolic meaning, transforming natural elements into profound representations of historical trauma and enduring spirit. The Cherokee Rose itself is the central symbol, embodying a nation born from sorrow and loss, its existence watered by the tears of those who suffered. Its white petals symbolize the tears shed, while its golden center poignantly represents the land stolen from the Cherokee people.
Seven petals for seven tribes
Center of gold for the land white men stole.
The seven petals also symbolize the seven clans or tribes of the Cherokee Nation, reinforcing their collective identity and shared experience. The arduous journey itself symbolizes the forced displacement and immense suffering of the Cherokee people.
Allusion: The poem makes a powerful allusion to the historical events surrounding the forced migration of the Cherokee people to Oklahoma, universally known as the Trail of Tears. This historical reference provides the foundational context for the poem’s themes of suffering, loss, and injustice.
growing on the trail where they cried.
…
crossing a thousand miles of mountain and marsh
These lines immediately connect the reader to the specific historical tragedy.
Imagery: McCord uses vivid imagery to create powerful visual and emotional impressions, allowing readers to visualize the hardship and feel the sorrow. Phrases like
The trail was long, the journey harsh
crossing a thousand miles of mountain and marsh
evoke a clear picture of the physical ordeal. Similarly,
White petals, a sign of those tears
that still wet the ground after a hundred fifty years
creates a poignant visual of the rose as a perpetual symbol of grief.
Repetition and Refrain: The opening stanza is repeated at the end of the poem, functioning as a powerful refrain. This repetition emphasizes the core themes of loss, remembrance, and the lasting consequences of historical injustice, ensuring the central message resonates deeply with the reader.
Seven petals for seven tribes
growing on the trail where they cried.
Center of gold for the land white men stole.
Four thousand of my ancestors died.
This structural choice reinforces the cyclical nature of memory and the enduring impact of the past.
Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes key ideas. This is evident in the third stanza:
Oh Spirit Wolf, oh Spirit Owl
hear the winter winds that howl.
Oh Spirit Eagle, oh Spirit Deer
why did so many have to die here?
The repeated “Oh Spirit” underscores the speaker’s desperate plea and questioning.
Parallelism: The use of similar grammatical structures to create balance and rhythm is prominent, particularly in the fourth stanza:
One nation prospered, one nation fell.
One went to heaven, one was sent to hell.
This parallelism highlights the stark contrast and inherent unfairness of the historical events.
Juxtaposition: The poem places contrasting ideas side by side to emphasize their differences and highlight the injustice. The lines
One nation prospered, one nation fell.
directly juxtapose the fortunes of the colonizers with the devastation of the indigenous people, underscoring the moral imbalance.
Apostrophe: This figure of speech involves directly addressing an absent person, an abstract idea, or a non-human entity. The speaker’s direct address to the animal spirits in the third stanza is a clear example:
Oh Spirit Wolf, oh Spirit Owl
hear the winter winds that howl.
Oh Spirit Eagle, oh Spirit Deer
why did so many have to die here?
This device conveys a sense of spiritual appeal and profound questioning in the face of tragedy.
Rhyme Scheme: The poem predominantly employs a consistent rhyme scheme, contributing to its musicality and memorability. The first and final stanzas follow an ABCB pattern, while the intermediate stanzas largely use an AABB scheme. For example, in the second stanza:
The trail was long, the journey harsh (A)
crossing a thousand miles of mountain and marsh (A)
and in the place where proud people those (B)
cried the tears that watered Cherokee Rose. (B)
This structure provides a rhythmic flow that enhances the narrative.
Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds creates a pleasing auditory effect and draws attention to certain phrases. Examples include the repeated “w” sound in “what was” and “wet” in the fifth stanza, and the “p” sound in “proud people” in the second and fifth stanzas.
and in the place where proud people those
…
remind us all of what was lost
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words, without necessarily rhyming, adds a musical quality to the lines. In “Seven petals for seven tribes,” the repeated short “e” sound creates a subtle internal harmony.
Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words, not necessarily at the beginning, contributes to the texture of the language. In “Seven petals for seven tribes,” the repetition of ‘s’, ‘t’, ‘l’, and ‘b’ sounds creates a subtle resonance. Another example is the ‘r’ sound in “The trail was long, the journey harsh.”
Enjambment: This occurs when a line of poetry continues onto the next line without punctuation, creating a flowing effect and often emphasizing the continuous nature of an idea. The fifth stanza provides a clear example:
White petals, a sign of those tears
that still wet the ground after a hundred fifty years
remind us all of what was lost
from proud people who bore the ultimate cost.
The lack of end-stop after “tears” and “years” creates a sense of ongoing sorrow and an unbroken chain of remembrance.
Through its masterful use of these literary and poetic devices, “Cherokee Rose” transcends a mere historical account, becoming a timeless elegy for a proud people and a powerful call for remembrance. Marc McCord’s poem ensures that the echoes of the Trail of Tears continue to resonate, reminding all readers of the profound human cost of injustice and the enduring spirit that blooms even in the face of profound sorrow. This poem stands as a vital piece of literature, inviting contemplation on history, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit.