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A review by sundayblues
How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975-2002 by Joy Harjo
4.0
even if you’re not usually a poetry fan, harjo’s work is surprisingly accessible.
this book provides the reader insight into the evolution of not only a remarkable poetic voice, but also the development of a remarkable person. joy harjo’s writing is deeply personal, rooted in her individual experience as a woman and native american, and at the same time, universal in exploring human pain, compassion, and love.
there’s a strong storytelling component and recurring natural imagery such as crows, horses, and the landscapes of the Southwest. the poems beat with the pulse of myth and music. "don't worry about what a poem means,” harjo tells us. “do you ask what a song means before you listen? just listen."
this book provides the reader insight into the evolution of not only a remarkable poetic voice, but also the development of a remarkable person. joy harjo’s writing is deeply personal, rooted in her individual experience as a woman and native american, and at the same time, universal in exploring human pain, compassion, and love.
there’s a strong storytelling component and recurring natural imagery such as crows, horses, and the landscapes of the Southwest. the poems beat with the pulse of myth and music. "don't worry about what a poem means,” harjo tells us. “do you ask what a song means before you listen? just listen."