Cherokee Rose
By Marc McCord
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.
Summary of “Cherokee Rose”
- Popularity of “Cherokee Rose”: Marc McCord wrote “Cherokee Rose,” a poem that reflects his mixed heritage—Texan, Scottish, and Native American. Although the exact publication date is unclear, it probably appeared around 1999. The poem is a moving tribute to the suffering endured by Native Americans during colonization, and its strength lies in its mythic portrayal of the Cherokee people’s forced migration to Oklahoma, commonly called the Trail of Tears.
- “Cherokee Rose” as a Representative of American Colonialism and Racial Discrimination: The poem centers on the Cherokee people’s oppression by white settlers and their forced journey to reservations in Oklahoma. This migration, known as the Trail of Tears, is shown as a source of immense sorrow, with the tears of those who suffered supposedly nourishing the Cherokee Rose. The poet calls upon the spirits of the Wolf, Owl, Eagle, and Deer, questioning why so many had to die. He contrasts the prosperity of one nation with the decline of another, a fate embodied by the Cherokee. The rose itself serves as a powerful reminder of this loss, its white petals and damp earth symbolizing the years of suffering and the ultimate cost paid by a proud people. The poem repeats the opening stanza, using it as a refrain that emphasizes its core themes.
- Major Themes in “Cherokee Rose”: The poem explores colonialism, migration, and the decline of a nation. It begins with a stark depiction of the hardships faced by Native Americans in the 19th century, when white settlers displaced them to reservations. The migration took a terrible toll, especially on women and children, whose tears watered the land. The decline of the Cherokee people is closely tied to this forced displacement, resulting in loss of culture and identity. The poem suggests that prosperity for one nation often comes at the expense of another.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Cherokee Rose”
Literary devices enrich poems with layers of meaning and artistry. Below is an exploration of how these devices appear in “Cherokee Rose.”
- Anaphora: Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. McCord uses this in the lines “One nation…” and “Oh Spirit…,” creating a rhythmic effect and emphasizing key ideas.
- Apostrophe: Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the poet addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a non‑human entity. The lines “O Spirit Wolf, oh Spirit Owl” exemplify this device, directly speaking to the spirits for answers.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words. In the line “Seven petals for seven tribes,” the repeated “e” sound gives the phrase a musical quality.
- Allusion: An allusion references a well‑known person, place, event, or literary work. This poem alludes to the historical events surrounding the Cherokee migration to Oklahoma, known as the Trail of Tears.
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds. Examples include the repeated “w” sound in “what was” and the “p” sound in “proud people.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words, not necessarily at the beginning. It appears in “Seven petals for seven tribes,” with the repeated “s” and “t,” and in “and in the place where proud people those” with the “n” and “r” sounds.
- Enjambment: Enjambment occurs when a line of poetry continues onto the next line without punctuation, creating a flowing effect. An example is the stanza:
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.
This enjambment creates a sense of continuous sorrow and loss.
Analysis of Poetic and Literary Devices in “Cherokee Rose”
While the terms “poetic” and “literary” devices are often used interchangeably, some devices are more closely associated with poetry.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem largely follows an ABCB rhyme scheme in the first and final stanzas, adding musicality. The intermediate stanzas use an AABB scheme, providing variety.
- Stanza: A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit in a poem. “Cherokee Rose” contains six stanzas, with the opening stanza repeated at the end, reinforcing its central message.
- Repetition: Repetition emphasizes particular ideas or feelings. The opening stanza—“Seven petals for seven tribes…”—serves as a refrain that drives home the poem’s core themes of loss and remembrance.
- Imagery: The poem evokes vivid imagery that appeals to the senses. Phrases such as “The trail was long, the journey harsh,” “One went to heaven, one was sent to hell,” and “White petals, a sign of those tears” create powerful visual and emotional impressions.
- Juxtaposition: The poem places contrasting ideas side by side, as in the line “One nation prospered, one nation fell,” highlighting colonialism’s inherent unfairness.
- Metaphor: The Cherokee Rose itself functions as a metaphor, representing a nation born from sorrow and loss, watered by the tears of those who suffered.
- Parallelism: Parallelism uses similar grammatical structures to create balance and rhythm. Examples include “Oh Spirit Wolf, Oh Spirit Owl” and “One nation prospered, one nation fell.”
- Symbolism: The poem is rich in symbolism. The rose symbolizes remembrance and resilience; gold represents stolen wealth; the journey symbolizes the forced displacement and suffering of the Cherokee people.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Cherokee Rose” are particularly impactful when teaching about the devastating effects of colonialism in America.
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 poignant stanza encapsulates the poem’s central message of loss, remembrance, and the lasting consequences of historical injustice.