A Bridge Dead in the Water

In A Bridge Dead in the Water, James Thomas Stevens examines colonization's impact through poetry, blending personal narratives with historical reflections from China and Native America.

In A Bridge Dead in the Water, Mohawk poet James Thomas Stevens delves into the profound effects of colonization across the Bering Strait, connecting the experiences of China and North America. Through three long poems, he navigates themes of mapping, post-colonial crises, and the pervasive influence of propaganda. The collection also features a series of shorter poems that reflect Stevens' personal experiences during his trip to China, intertwining his observations with the narratives of Native American history.

The poet confronts the metaphor of a 'dead bridge'—a symbol of disconnection and misunderstanding that resonates deeply with Native peoples, whose rich tapestry of creation stories stands in stark contrast to anthropological theories. Stevens' journey began in 2002 when he visited the Catholic Xujiahui cathedral in Shanghai, prompting him to explore Jesuit interactions with Asia. This experience evoked parallels to the history of Jesuits in his own homeland of Iroquoia, particularly within the Mohawk territories along the Saint Lawrence River.

The collection opens with the poem (dis)Orient, which tackles the complexities of cartography and authority. It transitions into the central piece, The Mutual Life, which addresses personal and communal healing through the lens of a 1901 text on accidents and emergencies. The final segment, Alphabets of Letters, critiques the propaganda embedded in Native American children's primers, reflecting on the rhetoric of empire and the strides made toward understanding in contemporary society.