This poem written by Diane Glancy, reflects her Native American heritage. Her father, a Cherokee man is the main character for the poem. She portrays the conflict between his native american identity and the westernized world in which he lives. The author implies that despite living disconnected from his traditions and working packing meat, her father remains Cherokee.
The author's feelings towards her father seem to be of love, respect and sadness. I find the poem nostalgic, and there seems to be a sense of being out of place in this world.
The conflict between her parents seems to fit the idea of the poem. Her father brings home hide and horns from work (representing his heritage), and her (western) mother rejects this. The author is just an observer in this poem.
The hide and horns are important, since some native americans relied heavily on the hide, meat and everything else provided by buffalos, which is also a theme in the poem.
