The imagery in Erdrich’s poem “Indian Boarding School: The Runaways” is very negative and depressing throughout. The imagery reveals the environment that these people went through. The imagery is very vivid throughout, which allows for better connection and understanding of the topic. Residential schools were a place where children went to, which was forced by the government to assimilate first nations cultures into European. Throughout the piece, Endrich uses words such as “dreams” (2) “scars” (6), “hurts” (10), “punishment” (16) and “dark” (22). Each of these words adds a somber and dark tone, which can all be associated with residential schools. Endrich says, “The lame guard strikes a match and makes the dark / less tolerant. We watch
