F. Scott Momaday, a Kiowa Indian, writes about the Indian tradition.  “The Delight Song of Tsoai-talee” epitomizes the Indian spirit which expresses their spiritual connection to the natural world. His imagery suggests the beauty of nature.

The name Tsoai-talee represents the poet.  Momaday was given the name when he was taken as an infant to visit sacred ground at Devils Tower, Wyoming. .  The name Tsoai means Rock Tree boy or one who lives with nature.

Anaphora is the repetitive use of a word or a phrase at the beginning of a sentence or a clause.  The poet applies this literary device in the beginning words “I am a…” which creates the feeling and sound of the tom-tom drum as it beats the tempo of the Indian dance.  It builds the poem to its climax.

Native Americans used oral tradition to pass the ancient way of life and the appreciation for nature.  To the Indian, nature is a living being that is necessary for them to survive.  This is the image that the song portrays. Each of the visualizations represents the Native American’s love of the natural world.

His pattern of sentences continues the beat of the drums:

I am a feather on the bright sky…

The beat of the drum can be felt with the rhythm of the words.

The noun presented is modified to create the desired image. 

• The blue horse runs in the plain
• The fish rolls and shines in the water
• A deer standing in the dusk

The poet references the animals that were important to the survival of the Native American and his relationship to the spiritual world. The horse, the fish, the deer, the eagle, the geese, and the wolf---each animal has an important place in the lives of the Indians. 

Momaday’s images pertain to the outside world which to the ancient times gave the meaning to their daily lives---the meadow’s gleam; the summer sky; the pounding rain shower; the moon’s reflection on the water; and the brightness of the snow.

But the image is enhanced by the anaphora which keeps the chant going building toward the high point of the poem:

You see, I am alive, I am alive
I stand in good relation to the earth
I stand in good relation to the gods
I stand in good relation to all that is beautiful
I stand in good relation to the daughter of Tsen-tainte

The man feels alive and a part of nature, god, and everything that is beautiful. 

The last line of the poem refers to the daughter of Tsen-Tainte or White Horse who as a daring Kiowa chief was noted for his great prowess as an Indian brave.

Can you explain the poem "The Delight Song of Tsoai-talee" by N. Scott Momaday?

   To understand a poem, the reader must first look to the poet.  N. Scott Momaday, a Kiowa Indian writer, interjects into his work the culture of his ancestors.  He spent his childhood on reservations throughout the Southwest; thus, his poems illustrate the oral tradition of the Native American, who spoke, chanted, danced, and sang their poetry. Momaday's writing techniques include simplicity of word choice, repetition of key lines, and dependence on figurative language.

   In the poem, "The Delight Song of Tsoai-talee," an understanding of  the Kiowa words  is necessary.  Momaday's Indian name is Tsoai-talee which translates to Rock Tree Boy.  This name was given to him in commemoration of being taken as a child to Devil's Tower in Wyoming, a 865 foot volcanic butte that is sacred to the Kiowa people.  Tsen-tainte, the other Kiowa name, refers to White Horse, a Kiowa chief during the second half of the nineteenth century noted for his daring.  As an apprentice warrior, White Horse showed remarkable adeptness. 

  Native American writers often employ three characteristics:  the motif of the boy undergoing the change to manhood; the personification of animals or inanimate objects; and the relationship of man to the land in which he lives.  These attributes can be seen in this poem.

    At the heart of the poem is  Rock Tree Boy, who is describing himself as part of the world.  His mood is joyful demonstrated in the title word "Delight..." Every image of the boy fulfils the vision of happiness, satisfaction, and enjoyment of life.  Momaday lists the boy's qualities figuratively with metaphors.  The speaker in the poem wants the reader to know that he is on the earth, and he is glad to be alive.  The importance and reason for his telling the world may lie in the line, "I stand in good relationto the daughter of Tsen-Tainte..." letting the reader know that love has found his heart.

   The closeness to nature and the land are represented through Momaday's use of symbols important to the Native American culture.

          feather-a symbol of prayer; a creative force

          the deer-hunting prey animal; a sacrifical protector

          the eagle-master of the skies; a carrier of prayers

          the flame-the heart of the people; cleansing of the spirit

He lets the eagle frolic with the wind, the rain rumble, and the shadow follow the child.  All these images speak to the bounty the of the boy's life.

   When reading the poem, the reader should allow himself to become the boy who stands on the precipice of life.  For what are we grateful?  How are we a part of the collective story of life? Where do we fit in with the land its occupants? In Momaday's song, it is good to be alive and have a place in the scheme of things.