Poem: “Remember” by Joy Harjo (American, b. 1951)

 Remember the sky that you were born under, 

know each of the star’s stories.

Remember the moon, know who she is.

Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the 

strongest point of time. Remember sundown 

and the giving way to night.

Remember your birth, how your mother struggled 

to give you form and breath. You are evidence of                                               

her life, and her mother’s, and hers.

Remember your father. He is your life, also.

Remember the earth whose skin you are: 

red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth, 

brown earth, we are earth.

Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their 

tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them, 

listen to them. They are alive poems.

Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the 

origin of this universe.

Remember you are all people and all people 

are you.

Remember you are this universe and this 

universe is you.

Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.

Remember language comes from this.

Remember the dance language is, that life is.

Remember.

The author, a member of the Muscogee Nation, served as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the U.S., the first Native American to have this honor.