Wednesday, December 19, 2012

This Beautiful Poem

was posted on Necromancy Never Pays in November, and I loved it so much I had to post it as well.
 I'm saving my pennies for more of Ms Harjo's poetry - much more.


Perhaps the World Ends Here
 - Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

bouquet of sunflowers on a green wooden table
This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.


4 comments:

  1. It's from her volume The Woman Who Fell From the Sky. I'm so glad to be the one who introduced you!

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    1. You've introduced me to many beautiful "new to me" poetry & poets. Thank you so very much.

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  2. Wow...that really is such a very beautiful poem!

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    1. It's rare that a poem that is so universal in its language can be so personal too.

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