A Natural Rhythm

Silko's use of poetry in her novel invokes a sense of kinship with the primordial word, even from an outside viewpoint. It's not present at the beginning, because we take on a more neutral role as a reader looking into the life of Tayo (who, for the most part, is perceived as an outsider despite being half-native). This is a technical skill utilized by Silko through the use of the traditional, western narrative style in the form of prose.

However, it comes together in appreciation for the stories told through poetry the moment Tayo begins to realize the validity of his culture and blood, eliciting a similar response in us as readers. In the end, the poetry and prose are telling the same story. As Grandma tells us, the "only thing is, the names sound different." This is proven from a technical perspective as well, as the entire piece (as it switches from prose to poetry) blends together in a cohesive way. The novel, too, is enclosed by a poem.