Reviews

How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975-2002 by Joy Harjo

bookshelfbybub's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

3.0

The strongest features of this poetry collection were the sense place and the establishment of character.

jasbeingjas's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.25

Full disclosure, I didn’t not read the notes in the back but I really appreciate their inclusion and would love to go back and further explore the story behind some of these poems. As always an incredible collection. My favorite is definitely ‘My heart is a good heart.’

leelynloo's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

3.5

divyareads's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

vampireph4ze's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

a wonderful collection of poetry that i think i should've sat with a bit longer — but that can only happen if i'm reading with groups of people i'm afraid. i did end up tearing up towards the end when i read about the background of some of the poems.

raluca_p's review against another edition

3.0

The Creation Story

I’m not afraid of love
or its consequence of light.
It’s not easy to say this
or anything when my entrails
dangle between paradise
and fear.

I am ashamed
I never had the words
to carry a friend from her death
to the stars
correctly.

Or the words to keep
my people safe
from drought
or gunshot.

The stars who were created by words
are circling over this house
formed of calcium, of blood
this house
in danger of being torn apart
by stones of fear.

If these words can do anything
if these songs can do anything
I say bless this house
with stars.

Transfix us with love.

jcpitts_24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

rebecca_ejm's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

4.75

lorenag5's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

the_reading_machine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced