Pocohontas in Poetry: Then and Now

      Reading the variety of poems about Pocohontas this evening left me with several impressions, the first being that the perceptions of Pocohontas, at least within the selections of poetry which we read, have changed dramatically over time.   In Green's article, a main topic was that of Pocontas and Indian woman being treated as "princesses"  and as submissive to the white man, a personification of an ideal of the superiority of white culture.   The first poem I read, "To Pocohunta," (circ. 1790) reflected this idea, describing Pocohontas as,"An Indian princess, blooming, fair and young!" (2).    The poem was largely a declaration of Pocohontas' beauty and womanly virtues, especially as an ambassador to her own people, able to "civilize" them.   This was quite reflective of the artwork we had viewed for Wednesday, as well as our previous articles. 
     On the other hand, the more modern poetry expressed views more in tune with Green's perceptions as well as those of many of my classmates: that Pocohontas was subjugated, or, to the extreme view, a traitor to her people.  The modern poetry also reflected upon the effects of Pocohontas upon the Native American population as a whole, even extending into modern times.  I was particularly struck by Neil Young's song, as I felt that it tied the individual to the image of Pocohontas as well as to the struggles that modern day Native Americans face.  He claims that he wants to, "sleep with Pocohontas/And find out how she felt/In the mornin'/On the fields of green/In the homeland/We've never seen"(27-32).   I felt that this statement was a reflection upon Pocohontas' decision to become "English."  While many Indians lost their homes due to the violence and endeavors of white men, Pocohontas found the very home that the settlers wanted for themselves.   In the speaker's mind, she may have found what everyone lost, but at the same time, she lost their culture.  It is a question of identity: what does one lose by leaving behind their natural culture?   His poem also refers to Marlon Brando.  The speaker wishes to "sit and talk of Hollywood/And the good things there for hire"(35-36).  This reminded me of the hope Native Americans held onto after losing their homes.   The final line of the poem is, "Marlon Brando, Pocohontas, and Me,"  which I felt referred to the promises which were made to the Indians, the question of assimilation, and the individual caught between these forces.  
     After reading the two poems, I came to the conclusion that the second poem (song)  was perhaps more representative of, if not the truth, the questions Native Americans themselves may have regarding the legend of Pocohontas and their past with the settlers.