Nature Poem
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 | |
| Author | Tommy Pico |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genres | Poetry, Queer, Indigenous |
| Published | 2017 Tin House |
| Publisher | Tin House |
| Publication place | USA |
| Media type | Book |
| Pages | 88 |
| ISBN | 978-1-941040-63-8 |
Nature Poem is a book-length poem written by Tommy Pico, a Native American poet born and raised on Viejas Indian Reservation of Kumeyaay nation.[1] It was published by Tin House in 2017. It was preceded by the publication of IRL (2016), followed by both Junk (2018) and Feed (2019).[1] Nature Poem was written in first-person narration following the character Teebs, a queer “NDN” (American Indian).[2] Teebs is a fictional character, and a development of Pico’s alter-ego and performance persona.[3] Teebs confronts the stereotypes put upon him by white colonialism,[4] such as Indian Americans' association with nature, by refusing to write a nature poem.[2]
Nature Poem was inspired by a line from Pico’s first book-length poem, IRL, where he wrote a poem about disliking nature poems.[5] It was initially intended to be published as a zine.[6]
Pico's writing frequently uses text-slang, hashtags, pop-culture references, and humor.[7] Nature Poem was written as a series of individual poems meant to be read in sequence.[8]
Often humorously, Teebs discusses dating, sex, and living as a queer person in the city.[7][9]
Tommy Pico uses the character Teebs to show the life of a queer indigenous Indian.[10][11]
Tommy Pico rewrites about the relationship between himself and nature.[12]
People say Tommy Pico was late to the “gay poetry game”, Tommy Pico replies with he was right on time.[13]
Tommy Pico calls out the monetization and colonization of the indigenous people where people think it’s appropriate to use indigenous culture for their own sake.[14]