Sherman Alexie's On The Amtrak From Boston To New York

America has always been known for its richly diverse population that inhabit it. To many people, it’s a fresh start, or generations of families who have lived here many years. What we never think of, however, is the people who are true Americans. Sherman Alexie’s poem On the Amtrak from Boston to New York, is a simple but thought provoking poem, gets the reader thinking about the real “Columbus” of America and a perspective of his personal feelings on American history. First of all, Sherman Alexie’s poem is considered simple but very thought provoking. He uses original vocabulary and not many complex sentences. Furthermore, he uses short and strait forward word phrases and sentences in the poem, which gives the illusion of anger and frustration. There are approximately two parts of the poem where Alexie

In line 9 he quotes “I have learned little more about American history during my few days back East than what I expected and far less of what we should know of the tribal stories.” (lines 5-9) In other words, Alexie believes that American history is completely useless compared to tribal stories centuries older than American history. He wants these stories and histories about Indian tribes valued just as high as American history is. Finally, he goes on the say “while I, as all Indians have done since the war began, made plans for what I would say the next time somebody from the enemy thought I was one of their own.” (line 34-37) That is final feeling that Alexie shares with audience from the poem. In other words, he does not consider himself an “American” but a Native American whose land was overtaken by unwelcomed visitors. From Sherman Alexie’s point of view, the reader can get a sense why he is bitter and angry towards so called American history today. However, no one can truly, fully understand the excluded feelings of a Native American unless, they too are one