Ratings2
Average rating4.5
A musical, magical, resilient volume from the first Native American Poet Laureate of the United States. In these poems, the joys and struggles of the everyday are played against the grinding politics of being human. Beginning in a hotel room in the dark of a distant city, we travel through history and follow the memory of the Trail of Tears from the bend in the Tallapoosa River to a place near the Arkansas River. Stomp dance songs, blues, and jazz ballads echo throughout. Lost ancestors are recalled. Resilient songs are born, even as they grieve the loss of their country. Called a "magician and a master" (San Francisco Chronicle), Joy Harjo is at the top of her form in Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings. Finalist for the Griffin Poetry Prize
Reviews with the most likes.
Not all of it reached me; the parts that did, reached me deep.
Some poetry feels trite or forced. There is none of that with Joy Harjo. I'm so glad that I listened to the audiobook of this, because the poet included some singing and music interspersed with the poetry. It was lovely. I am still with some of the lines, and will be for a long time. This is, I think, a must read.