Nature Poem

Nature Poem follows Teebs, a queer Native American character navigating life in New York City. The book-length poem tracks his resistance to writing about nature, pushing back against colonial expectations of Indigenous writers. Written by Tommy Pico, a member of the Kumeyaay nation, the text employs contemporary language including text-speak, hashtags, and pop culture references. The narrative unfolds through a series of connected poems that form a single cohesive work. Teebs moves through urban spaces, dating scenes, and social situations while confronting assumptions about his identity. The text maintains a consistent tension between expectations and reality, tradition and modernity. The work examines broader themes of identity, colonialism, and the complexities of navigating multiple cultural spaces in contemporary America. Through its rejection of conventional nature poetry, it creates new possibilities for Indigenous literary expression.

Readers connect with Pico's raw, honest exploration of Indigenous identity and his rejection of stereotypes. Many note how the book subverts expectations of what a "nature poem" should be through its urban settings and pop culture references. What readers liked: - Sharp humor and wit throughout - Experimental format and typography - Fresh perspective on Indigenous experiences - Seamless blend of texting language with poetic elements What readers disliked: - Stream-of-consciousness style can feel scattered - Some found the text-speak formatting difficult to follow - References can be too current/specific and may not age well Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (50+ reviews) Common reader comments highlight the book's "urgency and energy" and praise how it "demolishes Indigenous stereotypes." Critics note it can feel "messy and overwhelming at times" though most agree this serves the book's themes.

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Feed by Tommy Pico This book-length poem uses similar techniques to examine consumption, desire, and Indigenous identity in modern America.

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Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot The memoir dismantles colonial expectations of Indigenous storytelling through fragments and non-linear narrative.

Whereas by Layli Long Soldier The collection responds to official government language about Native Americans while breaking conventional poetic forms.

🌿 The book began as a series of tweets on Twitter before evolving into a full-length poetry collection. 🏳️‍🌈 Tommy Pico grew up on the Viejas Indian reservation of the Kumeyaay nation, and is one of the founding editors of the indigenous literary magazine "birdsong." 📱 Pico's unique writing style incorporates emojis, text abbreviations, and social media language, creating what critics have called a new form of "millennial epic poetry." 🎭 The character Teebs is loosely based on Pico himself, and appears in several of his other works, including "IRL," "Junk," and "Feed," forming what he calls his "Teebs tetralogy." 🏆 "Nature Poem" won the 2018 American Book Award and helped establish Pico as a leading voice in contemporary Native American literature.