Poet Laureate Joy Harjo

“Come together. Eat together. Find ways to connect.”

Anyone who whines that poetry is boring has never heard Joy Harjo read their poems. I was lucky enough to be a ticket-holder last month in a filled-to-capacity Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall at the State University of New York at Fredonia to not only listen, but to become inspired.Harjo’s opening comments set the tone: “A story leads to a dream shared by human nature.” They explained how the Seneca Nation is known as the Keepers of the Western Door, serving as “a guiding light … that shows the possibilities that life has to offer.” Harjo acknowledged that life wasn’t always easy, but that “we are all charged with taking care” of ourselves, our world, and each other.

Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Nation and the first Native American Poet Laureate, dazzled the full house with “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth In Its Human Feet”, a poem that echoed their opening message. “Do not hold regrets … Cut the ties you have to failure and shame.” The poem urges people to surround themselves with the ones they love and to celebrate that love. “Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you.” Their last line captured the commitment involved in choosing love: “Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.”

In another poem – “For Those Who Govern” – Harjo shared their genuine wonder over the election process by asking two simple questions: “Why aren’t people given a test to make sure they are qualified? Why can people just sign up to run?” In the poem, they list the questions they would want to appear on the test. “Number one. Can you govern yourself? Number two. What is the state of your household?” Harjo’s remaining questions emphasized the importance of participating in regular community service, knowing the history and laws of the region, revealing personal principles, having the ability to stand up to pressure, and owning the willingness to obey natural law.

Between reading their poems, Harjo performed musical pieces on a traditional Native American flute. They ended with a powerful message, one that urged unity among each other, our universe and our surrounding nature. “Come together. Eat together. Find ways to connect.”

SUNY Fredonia honored Joy Harjo as its Williams Distinguished Visiting Professor. Their appearance was organized by the English Department.