Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce

by Robert Penn Warren

Blue paper over boards backed with purple cloth, gilt letters. 64 pp.

Genres: Poetry, History, Classics, American, Native American, Biography

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Robert Penn Warren was an American poet, novelist, and literary critic and was one of the founders of New Criticism. He was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He founded the literary journal The Southern Review with Cleanth Brooks in 1935. He received the 1947 Pulitzer Prize for the Novel for All the King's Men (1946) and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1958 and 1979. He is the only person to have won Pulitzer Prizes for both fiction and poetry.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heartbreaking story of Chief Joseph is told in this striking poem. The choices he had to make; wanting to fight, yet realizing that the children of the Nez Perce were dying as a result of continued aggression, tells you where his heart was. This book deserves a much broader readership - in my opinion a 'forgotten' classic of American literature.

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One long narrative poem about Chief Joseph interspersed with quotes from documents and some of the players. The quotes were the best part of the book.

How do you write a poem better than this quote from the great Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce:

Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. The old men are killed. It is the young men who say yes or no. Ollokot, who led the young men, is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. Our little children are freezing to death. I want time to look for my children and see how many of them I may find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. Then Joseph drew his blanket over his head.

That's better than the whole poem put together.

There were generals and others who tried to do the right thing. Then there were the exterminators like William Tecumseh Sherman who wanted to destroy them all.

[GW · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this poem and I've read later another of Warrens'. Namely, "All the Kings Men", which I didn't like much from the beginning, but I read a lot of classics and realize that the greatness in a book is not always highlighted in the early parts of a book. I live in Eastern Washington. And I do love the natural history of the native peoples who inhabited this region. Dr. Ruby who was a Native American author from Moses Lake, once said at the Adam East Museum here in town, "You might not like it but the souls of indigenous peoples of the northwest line the shores of white man's manifest." He also, believed we should tear down all the dams on the Columbia to return the fishing grounds to the Native tribes along the Great river. He was an excellent writer, surgeon, and public speaker. His signed books with his coauthor are few but his history lesson is very valuable indeed. We are never alone in the land of milk and honey therefor the Indians of America need more of the pot of gold we attribute to the melting pot called the USA.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Near dawn they struck us, new horse-soldiers. Shot
Into tepees. Women, children, old died.
Some mothers might stand in the river's cold coil
And hold up the infant and weep, and cry mercy.
What heart beneath blue coat has fruited in mercy?
When the slug plugged her bosom, unfooting her
To the current's swirl and last darkness, what last
Did she hear? It was laughter."

Robert Penn Warren's 1982 narrative poem Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Who Called Themselves the Nimipu "The Real People" recounts the saga of the Nez Perce's removal from their traditional lands--lands promised by President Grant not to be taken--in northeastern Oregon once gold was discovered in the late 1800s. Warren adheres to historical accuracy while employing poetic language, character voicings, and excerpts of letters and documents by people involved. Unlike a short story or novel, the structure of the plot is loose; there are often abrupt shifts in setting, people, and action from stanza to stanza or part to part.

In the final section, Warren narrates a tourist visit to one of the battle sites and his disgust with the tribe's treatment by Federal troops is tangible. The language of the poem becomes coarse and mocking. Warren fulfills two objectives here: (1) Describing how contemporary historical markers white-wash the specifics of the atrocity, and (2) Describing how he became angry enough to create a narrative poem to articulate the missing perspective.

Despite the laconic lines emulating Chief Joseph's speech patterns and the odd use of epithets and kenning--at times as if we're reading an updated Beowulf--the poem does hold together. The lack of exposition and development of context can be frustrating. I familiarized myself with the basic outline of the Nez Perce war via Google and was able to follow the main thread of the saga. By the end, we have a deeper understanding of Chief Joseph and an assortment of tangential issues: the poor treatment of the Native American population, the fundamental clash of cultures (brought to light by the differences in military strategy), and the difficulty yet necessity of facing conflict without surrendering principles or beliefs. Inspired by his vision of Chief Joseph in the final section, Warren provides an emotionally-rich narrative of the "way he had come."

And there
He stands, the gray shawl showing
The four bullet holes, and hoofprints seen
In now hypothetical snow,
Marking the way he had come. I
In fanatic imagination, saw--
No, see--the old weapon
Outthrust, firm in a hand that does not
Tremble. I see lips move, but
No sound hear.

[Dave Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ There is only
Process, which is one name for history. Often
Pitiful. But, sometimes, under
The scrutinizing glass of Time,
Triumphant. “

Robert Penn Warren’s "Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce" provides a narrative account of the tragedy that befell the Nez Perce in the years following the Civil War. Three distinct voices give the accounts contained in Chief Joseph. An omniscient narrator opens the poem with a discursive historical portrait, which provides some context, and outlines some of the troop movements of Chief Joseph's pursuers. Chief Joseph relates both the story of his people as well as his thoughts, relevant to the events at hand. The final section of the poem is a first-person account of a journey to Little Bear Paw Battlefield by a contemporary traveler: the author himself.

Warren’s poem is rich in historical detail, effectively using primary documents to illustrate the events described and the motives of the actors involved. The actions and thoughts of Miles and Howard are laid bare, and in Warren’s portrayal, Chief Joseph seeks to be worthy of his father’s assent- a father whose eyes are ever upon him. Joseph questions,

"But what is a man?
An autumn-tossed aspen,
Pony-fart in the wind, the melting of snow-slush?
Yes, that is all. Unless- unless-
We can learn to live the Great Spirit's meaning
As the old and the old and the wise grope for it.”

Warren's poem, like history itself- does not give answer to either Joseph, or the reader. All are left groping, rudderless on an inchoate sea.

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

52 book club 2023 challenge # 18 set during a war other than WWI or WWII

The life of Chief Joseph was supposed to be one of peace with white men. The Nez Perce were not warlike Indians. However U.S. military people like General Sherman, Commanding General of the U. S. Army, believed "all Indians have to be killed or be maintained as a species of paupers." In what was called Chief Joseph's War the Nez Perce fought bravely but could not withstand the large number of white soldiers and their weapons. Chief Joseph surrendered to Col Miles signing a treaty that was kind to the Indians and allowed them to stay in their hallowed ground. This treaty was dismissed by a different treaty that forced the Indians to a reservation with poor soil and conditions that led to the deaths of many of the Nez Perce. In Chief Joseph's surrender, he said, "I am tired. Heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." We need to read and remember this sad chapter of U.S. history.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad and painful read since it is based on the treacherous and brutal policy of the U.S. government toward native people in the earlier history of the country. Sherman pretty much summed it up thusly: “The more we can kill this year, the less will have to be killed the next year, for the more I see of these Indians, the more convinced I am that they will all have to be killed or be maintained as a species of paupers.”

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it's a sad story in poetry form too. There must be infinite ways to tell sad stories. More than there are for happy stories, I'm sure.

Obviously super well-written, choice of language superb, block quotations used perfectly. I knew the story well, but needed to hear it again in a different way.

Recommended for anyone wanting a very brief but powerful history lesson on the USA's assimilation/annihilation of the Nez Perce.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting telling of the historical treaty breaks and final round-up of the Nez Perce tribe in 1877. The Nez Perce never desired to fight, were a peaceful tribe, and with heavy hearts finally surrendered to the Federal troops.

[Janin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I found this book - long poem - enjoyable. I like the way he uses quotes and bits of history to supplement the poem. The story itself is moving and there are some very moving passages every couple pages.

[Vasha7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Penn Warren prefers a rather anglo-saxon mode of poetry, rich in alliteration and epithet-nouns, with loosely structured sentences and gnarly, vigorous rhythms. It works well for this long narrative work, which resembles an epic in that it has battles and a long journey in it, but an unconventional epic, centered on a war-hero who all his life kept trying to live in peace. Then too, Warren's modernism shows in the device he uses of constantly inserting historical quotes. I haven't read much of the words that remain from Chief Joseph, and don't have a good idea how true-to-life the characterization is in the long parts of the poem that Warren has Joseph narrate, but I will say that poem-Joseph is an amazing character that I'm glad to have "met". That's compensation for the necessarily depressing nature of this story, which Warren tells with due outrage, from the days before Lewis and Clark first met the Nez Perce, up to the present. But besides the theme of the struggle for the land, Warren keeps returning to the question of "manhood" (it's a very male narrative, with women only being mentioned in two brief passages, neither woman named) -- perhaps too typical of American men in the context of Indian wars.

[Jan C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Penn Warren's epic poem on Chief Joseph who is primarily remembered for the line "I will fihgt no more forever" and the epic chase he lead the cavalry on as he tried to escape from Winding Waters (Wallowa, WA) to Canada. So sad when they are taken by the white man who violates his word almost as quickly as it is given.

I have been reading stories about the native americans for years, once I got hooked on "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" which wasn't exactly objective from a historian's point of view. It was just as biased as all the histories, only in the other direction.

I notice the notes show that the year before the publication of this book, Mr. Warrent received the "genius" award from the MacArthur Foundation.

I think my favorite part is Mr. Warren's own trip to Snake Creek a century later. This may be because this tells his own personal views, he inserts himself into the historical poem to show the effect the place has on him.

[Pat Settegast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epic poem recounts the rise and fall of Chief Joseph as the Nez Perce are forced out of their homeland of Wallawa and struggle to reach the border of Canada. The language is brilliant and the poet works with numerous historical approaches, using lastly a road trip with some old friends to juxtapose the battles of the past with modern uncertainties. Falling just shy of an alchemical significance the text is nevertheless one of ringing archetypes: the one-armed general, the quest for the scriptures, the tactics of Chief Joseph, the irony of William Tecumseh Sherman's eponym, the rage and the folly of Miles' charge, and the chief dieing of "a broken heart." While the poem can stand alone, it may be helpful to the interested reader to familiarize themself with the history of this epic tragedy of Western Expansionism. Kent Nerburn's book is an excellent place to start.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the completion of a World Religions class I took at Calvin, in which it was required to read [Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux] my interest in First Nations narratives has grown. Though there are many grand tales written from both Native American insiders and outside observers, I found that in most cases the stories themselves are more epic then the level of writing. Robert Penn Warren seems to fall in to this pattern as well, his pen barely does justice to the vastness of the tale. But I am glad for the attempt and would recommend it to readers interested in the history of the First Nations.

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Penn Warren, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce (Random House, 1983)

Warren's penultimate book of poetry, published as he was nearing eighty, is less something to be criticized or examined as it is to be learned from. Warren, seventy-five at the time of this long poem's writing, had been in the game for over a half century, had won the Pulitzer three times (as well as most other major prizes known to man), and was one of the last century's most influential writers on many fronts. Forget nitpicking, and just learn from one of the few Americans who has truly earned the title of "master" in the poetic realm. ***

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, yet powerfully tragic poem about the slaughtering of the Nez Perce tribe, and the disintegration of their sacred culture.
This poetry clearly portrays the rich culture and society of Native American Indians, and devastating historical events.
"Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce" was unexpectedly violent, and far more bloody than I would have anticipated for a poem.
However, this takes away none of its harsh and sad beauty.
A realistic, darkly beautiful work of poetry and American history.

[Matt Ambs]

The tragic tale of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce, pursued by the cavalry and senselessly murdered and removed from Wallowa. One is struck by the poignancy of the words of Joseph and horrified at the sordid hearts of bureaucratic politicians. Though the ages have swallowed up and hidden the injustices of man from his children, the cry of Joseph will never fade away.

[Kevin Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and good read. Long poem about the travails of Chief Joseph, one of the saddest stories in the whole sordid history of my people. Really makes Sherman out to be a jerk. Along with Grant and most of the other Americans in any position of authority. Pretty empathetic rendering of the story.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prose poem about the flight and noble but doomed resistance of Chief Joseph and his people after their ancestral lands were taken from them by the good ol' U.S. government.

[Nettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

infinitely sad and yet wonderful