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alittlegreyfish's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful poetry collection. So many great sections to highlight.
kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
3.0
I was born and raised in the Mvskoke nation of Oklahoma. In those days, we always referred to it as the “Creek” nation, a moniker assigned to Mvskokes by white immigrants. While I myself have no native american ancestry, I grew up immersed in pow wow country and surrounded by Mvskoke (and Seminole, and Cherokee, and Choctaw) friends.
In Mvskoke-land, Harjos are everywhere. The surname is about as common as caucasian “Smith.” I say this because seeing the name Harjo associated with the title ‘Poet Laureate’ gives me a bit of nostalgic homeboy pride. It is my distinction by association. It is my prestige by proxy.
I absolutely love Joy Harjo. As a representative of indigenous peoples (and Oklahoma) I love what she brings to the table. She is more than a poet, she is a force of nature. But, and here is where I turn from socialite to troglodyte, I like-NOT-love poetry. I’ll take good prose over great poetry every time. Langston Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf… I like their poetry, but I LOVE The Ways of White Folks and The Bell Jar and A Room of One’s Own. Respectively and respectfully.
I’m off to read Poet Warrior.
*For more insight into Mvskoke-Land, check out the FX series Reservation Dogs written and directed by Sterlin HARJO.
In Mvskoke-land, Harjos are everywhere. The surname is about as common as caucasian “Smith.” I say this because seeing the name Harjo associated with the title ‘Poet Laureate’ gives me a bit of nostalgic homeboy pride. It is my distinction by association. It is my prestige by proxy.
I absolutely love Joy Harjo. As a representative of indigenous peoples (and Oklahoma) I love what she brings to the table. She is more than a poet, she is a force of nature. But, and here is where I turn from socialite to troglodyte, I like-NOT-love poetry. I’ll take good prose over great poetry every time. Langston Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf… I like their poetry, but I LOVE The Ways of White Folks and The Bell Jar and A Room of One’s Own. Respectively and respectfully.
I’m off to read Poet Warrior.
*For more insight into Mvskoke-Land, check out the FX series Reservation Dogs written and directed by Sterlin HARJO.
alboyer6's review against another edition
4.0
I am generally not much of a poetry reader, this book has a lot of diverse poems but also includes enough bits and pieces of history to leave me wanting more. Great collection.
emilydiane8's review against another edition
5.0
“Yes there’s a cosmic consciousness...How do I sing this so I/don’t forget? Ask the poets.”
I cried reading the first poem in this collection and Harjo continued to fill my heart back up after. I have read her poetry before, but reading an entire collection front to back was such an experience because of how beautifully she balances opposites: nothingness and fullness, mourning and celebration, ownership and oppression. This was absolutely breathtaking.
I cried reading the first poem in this collection and Harjo continued to fill my heart back up after. I have read her poetry before, but reading an entire collection front to back was such an experience because of how beautifully she balances opposites: nothingness and fullness, mourning and celebration, ownership and oppression. This was absolutely breathtaking.
brandifox's review against another edition
4.0
It is impossible to make it through the tragedy
Without poetry. What are we without winds becoming words?
“Becoming Seventy”
Without poetry. What are we without winds becoming words?
“Becoming Seventy”
evaluna925's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0