“We can observe the story, which is mental; feel the story, which is physical; let the story go, which is emotional; then forgive the story, which is spiritual, after which we use the materials of it to build a house of knowledge.”
A little girl becomes a poet warrior in this perfect blend of poetry and memoir. This reflection of Joy Harjo’s life gives inspiration and insight on how to stand up for yourself and have compassion towards yourself and others. With the traditional art of storytelling, Harjo not only connects the readers to each other, but also to people from the past and in the future. Many parts of the book are not so much her memoir as they are a telling of all those who have come before who have shaped her to be the poet warrior she is. As she recounts her life trials of facing abuse as a child, becoming a strongly independent teenager, learning to be a young mother and teacher, and her metamorphosis into the poet warrior she is today, she gives credit to the spiritual connection with her ancestors and the mentors that she encounters in her life.
Joy Harjo is a world-famous musician, writer, and activist of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Motivated by the respect needed for every inhabitant of the earth, she writes poetry about history, defining self, the arts, and social justice. She was the first Native Poet Laurate of the United States of which she served three terms. Poet Warrior: A Memoir is her second memoir and includes love, loss, music, battles, and celebration. If you want a contemplative book that you can enjoy slowly, this is a great one to check out. It’s a book that doesn't need to be read start to finish or as a whole: feel free to enjoy it piece by piece. If you enjoy her poetry, I recommend checking out her music which she pairs with her poetry. Her latest album, I Pray for my Enemies, has Harjo’s defining poems “An American Sunrise,” “Fear,” “Running” and “Remember”. |
