Panda Reviews - Other Small Thundering

Summary

In this video, Elaine provides an in-depth analysis of Natalie Diaz's poem 'Other Small Thundering,' which appears in the anthology 'Read America's.' Elaine explores the poem's themes of Native American cultural death, environmental destruction, and the impact of PG&E's contamination on Mojave sacred lands. She discusses how Diaz blends Mojave traditions with references to Greek mythology to emphasize the loss of her people's homeland. Elaine concludes by highlighting the poem's somber message about the irreversible damage done to the Mojave and their environment.

Takeaways

• 📖 Natalie Diaz's poem *Other Small Thundering* appears in *Reed Americas Anthology*, edited by Harry O'Leary, Garrett Bryant, and Amanda Fuller, on pages 74 and 75.
• 🌍 The poem reflects the hardships Native Americans, particularly the Mojave people, face due to land contamination by companies like PG&E.
• 🛶 Diaz merges Greek mythology with Mojave culture, using imagery such as coins over the eyes (referencing the ferryman Charon) and small boats to represent journeys into the afterlife.
• ⚓ Medicine bags filled with buffalo nickels symbolize the emptiness and loss of cultural identity caused by inadequate reparations from corporations like PG&E.
• 💀 The poem is a meditation on death and cultural destruction, with references to the Mojave people's polluted homeland and their spiritual journey after life.
• 🌱 The imagery of thirsty children, hungry dogs, and poisoned landscapes reflects the environmental damage caused by hexavalent chromium contamination in the Mojave's sacred lands.
• 💔 The poem evokes both personal and collective loss, linking the fate of the Mojave to larger themes of colonialism and corporate greed.
• 🧑‍🔧 Diaz critiques the effects of industrialization, specifically PG&E's pollution, on both the natural environment and Mojave traditions, symbolized by references to electricity and modern technology.
• 💣 The 'ticking time bomb' of hexavalent chromium poisoning underscores the ongoing and unavoidable threat to the Mojave people’s health and land.
• 🌀 The poem’s conclusion urges for a return to nature, yet acknowledges the irreversible damage already done to the Mojave people and their way of life.

Q & A

Who wrote the poem 'Other Small Thundering'?

'Other Small Thundering' was written by Natalie Diaz.

Where can the poem 'Other Small Thundering' be found?

The poem can be found in the anthology 'Reed Americas,' which was edited by Harry O'Leary, Garrett Bryant, and Amanda Fuller.

What are some of the major themes in 'Other Small Thundering'?

Major themes include the cultural and environmental devastation of the Mojave people due to the contamination of their land by PG&E, the connection to ancient Greek mythology, and imagery related to death and the afterlife.

How does Natalie Diaz incorporate ancient Greek mythology in her poem?

Diaz references Charon, the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, by mentioning coins placed on the eyes of the deceased to pay for passage into the underworld. This symbolizes how the Mojave are born into death and burdened by environmental damage.

What is the significance of the Mojave people’s connection to the Colorado River?

For the Mojave people, the Colorado River is not only a source of sustenance through fishing but also a spiritual pathway leading to the afterlife, which makes the contamination of the river particularly devastating.

What environmental issue does the poem address, and which company is responsible?

The poem addresses the contamination of the Mojave's sacred lands by hexavalent chromium, for which PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) is responsible.

What does the image of 'medicine bags anchored with buffalo nickels' symbolize in the poem?

This image symbolizes the irony and emptiness of reparations offered to the Mojave people. The buffalo nickels represent worthless compensation that weighs down their sacred traditions and culture.

How does the poem portray the Mojave people’s cultural death?

The poem portrays cultural death through the imagery of the poisoned environment, the dying land, and the Mojave’s forced acceptance of outside influences like PG&E, leading to the loss of their identity and sacred practices.

What role does hexavalent chromium play in the poem?

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic substance that has contaminated the Mojave lands, leading to lung complications, and is metaphorically described as a ticking time bomb that will eventually kill those exposed to it.

What is the overall message or conclusion of the poem 'Other Small Thundering'?

The poem conveys that the Mojave people and their land are doomed due to contamination by PG&E. It reflects on the irreversible damage done to the environment, culture, and identity of the Mojave, and mourns the loss of everything Diaz once knew.