We will remember

I love poetry. I used to write not-so-great poetry, once upon a time. LOL 

These days, I like to share other people's good poetry with people who don't ordinarily find themselves anywhere near literature or poetry. This is an exerpt from Joy Harjo's poem "Remember," which I loved right away, because I always talk to my ancestors when I am researching their lives or writing about them. And I always end with "We will remember you."

"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.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you...."

Copyright ©1983 by Joy Harjo from She Had Some Horses

Published on Academy of American Poets (https://www.poets.org)

Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 9, 1951, and is a member of the Mvskoke/Creek Nation.

Photo Credit: Academy of American Poets (https://www.poets.org)