Poetry for Children 5903-23
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Poetry Break 24

indians.jpg
Available from images.amazon.com.Accessed July 23,2005

A poem by a Native American poet

Down Highway 163
by Shonto Begay
 
The old lady in the back of the truck
Has seen days much colder
Someone's grandmother
On the highway towards Kayenta
Only her face shows from a faded blanket
Her features are strong
Maybe she is related to the people in the front
Laughing and warm
Or maybe she is catching a ride to the trading post
She may even be returning
From the health clinic in Monument Valley
The back of the truck is cold
Among old spare tires and chains
Shovels and bare metal box
She is no stranger to Old Man Winter
She has seen many winters
It has been colder
 
 

Navajo, Visions and Voices Across the Mesa. New York :
     Scholastic, INC. 1995.

Introduction
I like this poem, it shows character, and strength of the old woman. It is a little hard to read because there are no punctuations in the poem.
 
 
Extension
 
 I think this poem is more for third grade and up .Read the poem and then talk about the picture. Have the class write a story about the old Native American women. Who do you think she is? Why isn't she riding in the front of the truck?
Using a map or a geography book locate Kayenta and the Monument Valley.
Talk about the different types of land structures like the ones that make up the Monument Valley; the  red mesas, and buttes. If you have computer lab allow the  class to access the website http://www.kayentatownship.com/.
Have the class put together a book about the different Native Americans.

A poem by an International poet who is not an American