The Indian Burying Ground - A poem by Philip Freneau

Philip Freneau - The Indian Burying Ground

In spite of all the learn'd have said;
I still my old opinion keep,
The posture, that we give the dead,
Points out the soul's eternal sleep.

Not so the ancients of these lands --
The Indian, when from life releas'd
Again is seated with his friends,
And shares gain the joyous feast.

His imag'd birds, and painted bowl,
And ven'son, for a journey dress'd,
Bespeak the nature of the soul,
Activity, that knows no rest.

His bow, for action ready bent,
And arrows, with a head of stone,
Can only mean that life is spent,
And not the finer essence gone.

Thou, stranger, that shalt come this way.
No fraud upon the dead commit --
Observe the swelling turf, and say
They do not lie, but here they sit.

Here still lofty rock remains,
On which the curious eye may trace,
(Now wasted, half, by wearing rains)
The fancies of a older race.

Here still an aged elm aspires,
Beneath whose far -- projecting shade
(And which the shepherd still admires
The children of the forest play'd!

There oft a restless Indian queen
(Pale Shebah, with her braided hair)
And many a barbarous form is seen
To chide the man that lingers there.

By midnight moons, o'er moistening dews,
In habit for the chase array'd,
The hunter still the deer pursues,
The hunter and the deer, a shade!

And long shall timorous fancy see
The painted chief, and pointed spear,
And reason's self shall bow the knee
To shadows and delusions here.

Added: on January 21st, 2009 at 2:32 AM | Viewed: 17619 times | Comments and analysis of The Indian Burying Ground by Philip Freneau Comments (21)

The Indian Burying Ground - Comments and Information
Poet: Philip Freneau (Philip Freneau Art) Poem: The Indian Burying Ground Poem of the Day: Jul 1 2000 Comment 21 of 21, added on October 7th, 2009 at 11:09 AM. I have often visited the Cemetery of the Mohegan people on the west bank of the Thames River in Connecticut. Burials of the 17th century are marked with small, rough stones. Note that Freneau, in the first stanza declares his disbelief in the survival of the soul after death. The sleep is "eternal." Commentators who think that Freneau is saying that Native Americans are more "spiritual" than whites are mistaken. Both whites and Indians are equally deluded. The person dies totally. But, the Indians' beliefs are strong and hopeful, and they persuade the wanderer to believe he sees visions. Otto Steinmayer from Malaysia Comment 20 of 21, added on March 9th, 2009 at 2:34 PM. I think, that in this poem, Philip Freneau describes how the Native Americans live in harmony with Nature, their attitude towards the essence of life, and how they become one with nature at their deathbed. With rhymes, metaphors and comparisons, he tells how the Indians are not savages, and that maybe we, the white people, or as he says “The learned”, could learn a lot of the Natives spiritual view on life and especially death. The learned, seemed to have misunderstood the Native Americans and their culture. According to the author the white man doesn’t seem to understand the country he arrived in, He’s a stranger in a strange country, and therefore he is having a hard time tolerating the Native Americans. According to Philip Freneau, the Native Americans become one with nature, and are not focused on all the material things in life. The Romanticism has its influence on this poem. It’s very positive with all the nature images he gives, and his positive look upon the Natives is also very positive. I believe that Philip Freneau wrote this poem to inspire the Americans to give the Natives, the Indians, the respect they deserved. Andrew Gillam from United States Comment 19 of 21, added on January 21st, 2009 at 2:32 AM. After reading the poem it's obvious to me that it speaks of the equality between the Europeans and the Indians - it points out the fact that, despite the European beliefs, the Indians do have souls and an afterlife that "has no rest", therefore they must be human rather than animalistic savages, as it was presumed before. In consequence, the graves of Native Americans should not be desecrated. What I'm saying might sound rude, wrong, or even racist, but we have to remember that America wasn't always a lovely fluffy place for everyone to feel equal and comfortable in. Mizuki from Poland More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Indian Burying Ground, has received 21 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Philip Freneau with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Philip Freneau Poem: The Indian Burying Ground Last read: Dec 2 2009, 12:19PM Poem of the Day: Jul 1 2000 Viewed 17619 times. Added on January 21st, 2009 at 2:32 AM.

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