Yahoo!

Joy Harjo has been named U.S. Poet Laureate. She is the first Native American to receive this honor. Joy is an amazing poet AND one #BadassWoman!

Remember

Remember the sky that you were born under, 
know each of the star’s stories. 
Remember the moon, know who she is. I met her 
in a bar once in Iowa City. 
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the 
strongest point of time. Remember sundown 
and the giving away to night. 
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled 
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of 
her life, and her mother’s, and hers. 
Remember your father. He is your life also. 
Remember the earth whose skin you are: 
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth 
brown earth, we are earth. 
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their 
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them, 
listen to them. They are alive poems. 
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the 
origin of this universe. I heard her singing Kiowa war 
dance songs at the corner of Fourth and Central once. 
Remember that you are all people and that all people are you. 
Remember that you are this universe and that this universe is you. 
Remember that all is in motion, is growing, is you. 
Remember that language comes from this. 
Remember the dance that language is, that life is. 
Remember.

——

Perhaps The World Ends Here

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

——

Joy’s memoir, Crazy Brave, is also an astonishing piece of writing.

Congratulations Joy Harjo.

💗