1. How is the image of graffiti used in this poem?
Graffiti is used to make a statement and it is also usually brightly coloured and big. In the poem, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson states “you have a new big pink eraser”, but an eraser cannot wash off graffiti. Indigenous people are the graffiti, and the big pink eraser refers to the settler’s attempts at erasing their culture with the residential schools. Noticeably in “i am graffiti”, the i is lowercase. This represents the feeling of insignificance.
2. How does the poem suggest resilience and survival in the face of attempted erasure?
“of course
the bleeding-heart liberals
and communists
can stop feeling bad
for the stealing
and raping
and murdering
and we can all move on
we can be reconciled
except, i am graffiti.”
This explains how much indigenous people have gone through, being raped, murdered, stolen from. At the end, “i am graffiti” is used as a symbol of hope and reminder, like the poet is reminding the settlers that they can’t erase them. They can’t undo what is done.
3. How does the poet use repetition to suggest a continued growth of the self?
The poet repeats “i am graffiti” throughout the story, representing the struggles that indigenous people have faced throughout history.
“except, i am graffiti
except, mistakes were made.”
The graffiti is a reminder to Canada of their past, it represents the oppression indigenous people have faced and the mistakes Canadians have made throughout history.
4. Do you feel that the mood of the poem is the same throughout, or does it change? Do you feel that the voice is using dark humour or sarcasm at any point? Where?
The poet uses lots of sarcasm to represent her frustration and her anger at the government for trying to reconcile when they’ve hurt indigenous people so much.
“of course
the bleeding-heart liberals
and communists
can stop feeling bad
for the stealing
and raping
and murdering
and we can all move on
we can be reconciled
except, i am graffiti.”
This is an example of the sarcasm that the poet uses in her poem, angry and frustrated at the thought of moving on from the history of Canada.