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Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo Quotes

Poet

Joy Harjo is an American Indian poet born on May 9, 1951. Her work blends poetry, music, and visual art, exploring Native American culture, identity, and the female experience. Harjo is known for her unique voice and profound emotional expression, and her poetry has won numerous literary awards.

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Famous Joy Harjo Quotes

“You're gone now, and I'm still in this predicament called living, Charlie. I imagine things don't change much when you cross the line. You're still you. And I'm still here at the other end of this long, long wave, listening.”

Life Death Poetry Listening Poem Living Mourning

Book:Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems

Source: Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems

“She thinks of the 4 a.m. lonelinesses that have folded her up like death, discordant, without logical and beautiful conclusion.”

Death Poetry Loneliness Sad Depression Unending Late Night She Had Some Horses Joy Harjo

Book:She Had Some Horses

Source: She Had Some Horses

“Be who you are, even if it kills you. It will. Over and over again. Even as you live. Break my heart, why don't you?”

Life Self Death Poetry Poem Heartbreak Individuality

Book:An American Sunrise

Source: An American Sunrise

“All for that welcome home dance, The most favorite of all-- when everyone finds their way back together to dance, eat and celebrate. And tell story after story of how they fought and played in the story wheel and how no one was ever really lost at all.”

Life Death Poetry Loss Grief Family Poem Mourning Celebration Celebration Of Life

Book:An American Sunrise

Source: An American Sunrise

“When the world as as knew it ended, we stood up again in the ruin, and found a way to keep walking through tears.”

Death Loss Grief Tears Mourning Carrying On Persevering

Book:Catching the Light

Source: Catching the Light

“I never got to wash my mother's body when she died. I return to take care of her in memory. That's how I make peace when things are left undone.”

Death Poetry Loss Poem Mothers Death Of A Mother Funeral Rites Death Rites

Book:An American Sunrise

Source: An American Sunrise

“All those you thought you lost now circle you And you are free of pain and heartbreak. Don't look back, keep going. We will carry your memory here, until we join you In just a little while, in one blink of star time.”

Death Poetry Loss Grief Poem Memory Mourning Eternal Life

Book:An American Sunrise

Source: An American Sunrise

“I leave you to your ceremony of grieving Which is also of celebration Given when an honored humble one Leaves behind a trail of happiness In the dark of human tribulation. None of us is above the other In this story of forever.”

Happiness Death Loss Grief Mourning Celebration Celebration Of Life

Book:An American Sunrise

Source: An American Sunrise

“Some things on this earth are unspeakable: Genealogy of the broken— A shy wind threading leaves after a massacre, Or the smell of coffee and no one there—”

Death Poetry Poem Trauma Massacres Unspeakability

Book:Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems

Source: Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems

“When she broke on Earth, the light in her was not broken. We cannot break light, nor can we destroy it.”

Light Death Eternal Life Brokenness

Book:Catching the Light

Source: Catching the Light

About the Author

Born: May 9, 1951
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 138

Related Topics

Poetry She Had Some Horses Joy Harjo Poem Life Death Loss Earth Heart Language Love Grief Imagery Mourning Stories Humanity Identity Poems Remember Stars

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

She Had Some HorsesRelated source material

Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: PoemsRelated source material

An American SunriseRelated source material

Catching the LightRelated source material

In Mad Love and WarRelated source material

Crazy BraveRelated source material

How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975-2002Related source material

The spiral of memory: interviewsRelated source material

A Map to the Next World: Poems and TalesRelated source material

The Pueblo Imagination: Landscape and Memory in the Photography of Lee MarmonRelated source material

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