By DANIEL G. SNETHEN
Darkling Publisher and Co-Editor
“As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities.” (Voltaire)
you were born through dark
to seek the light
to give light
in the darkest hours
That is the admonition of the Dark Poet…to give the world light in the darkest hours.
Mabel Picotte is one such poet. Born in Vermillion, S.D., under the sign of Aquarius, Picotte has lived on the banks of the Mnisose since she was eight. Graduating from Marty Indian School, she went on to earn her B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota at Morris in 2001. When asked which she considered herself to be, a Native American poet or a poet who happened to be Native American, she responded (and rightfully so) with some indignation, “I don’t happen to be anything. I am an Ihanktowan and Oglala poet.”
Much of Picotte’s poetry seems driven by cultural experiences, while some of it seems to derive from alternative sources—yet upon closer examination one finds threads of indigenous ideology interwoven throughout her entire body of poetical work. To the question of how her cultural upbringing affected the way she writes poetry and the meaning of that poetry, our featured poet responds:
“How does one separate cultural experience from other experiences? I look at everything
through the lens of my personal life experience being an Ihanktowan, Oglala woman. I
write from that perspective.”
Picotte believes she can be an advocate for the Native American people through poetry by writing about the issues which affect Native peoples. “I do research so that I can get the facts straight and then pull from personal experience and knowledge. I accept constructive criticism, which can be a bitch at times, but am always looking for ways to improve and move forward as a poet. After all, life is an ever-changing journey.”
When asked what her major purpose in writing poetry was or what she hoped to accomplish in writing this poetry, Picotte was a bit elusive. “…I don’t know what my purpose in life is, much less my purpose in writing poetry. I really enjoy life and writing poetry. I strive to be a kind, compassionate yet realistic person and hope that shines through all aspects of my life, including my poetry. I don’t want to lie to anyone about my experiences and hope that I can achieve the tact and grace necessary to enable readers of my poetry to relate and think critically about society as well as their lives.”
Picotte mentioned several poets and novelists which she admires. Highest on her literary pedestal sits Sherman Alexie; he made both her list for favorite poets and novelists. “…I am partial to all writing by Sherman Alexie.” She enjoys the poetry of Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, John Milton, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, Wallace Stevens, Chrystos, Edgar Allen Poe, Erica Jong, and many others. Novelists listed included Kim Harrison, Gregory Maguire, Peter Straub and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Arthurian legend is of particular interest.
Avid students of poetry are often interested in the journey the poet has taken as a writer. They want to know how the poet has developed their craft. Picotte asserts “without mincing words I believe I always excelled at writing. Early on much of my writing was negatively criticized and down-played by internalized racism that seemed to consume many of my teachers. My first notion that I was an awesome writer was through a fifth-grade assignment where our class wrote to NASA astronauts and Astronaut Dick Covey responded to my letter—and my letter alone. I remember my fifth-grade English teacher did not believe me until I showed her the living proof: autographed picture and return letter—stating that he was impressed with what I wrote. No other student received a response. However, as hard as I try, I cannot remember what I exactly wrote in my initial letter but it did include a poem about space.
I caught a ride
on the crystal ship
and journeyed to the moon by way of the old
Greenwood Agency
the rhythmic dark
hummed sweetly
with us
while the
luscious flavor of youth
branded the stars
onto our minds
passage by starlight
redemption
at dawn
Glad DARKLING is that Ms. Picotte, as a child, wrote that initial letter to a NASA astronaut and happy we are that Astronaut Dick Covey responded in kind.
Take my hand
in the salt of this night
and I will dance
throwing the stars like shurikens
that shall spin forth in fabulous arcs
blurring all that lingers near
into silence
And let us here at DARKLING help silence the insufferable internalized racism which still inculcates itself within the barbaric confines of civilized society. Yes, raise your voice Ms. Picotte, bring to task all the naysayers and do-gooders. Raise the level of awareness of all people, make us realize that none of us are alien, that we are all indigenous to this world, this planet and help us all to
stand together
smudging boundaries
lines of division
let our numbers
show strength, endurance, perseverance, survival
beyond “Manifest Destiny”
