Joy Harjo (b.1951) is an American poet, musician, and activist, known for exploring Native American identity, history, and spirituality. The first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate (2019–22,) she shaped contemporary poetry with lyrical storytelling and cultural themes.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harjo is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts, earned a B.A. from the University of New Mexico (1976,) and completed an M.F.A. at the University of Iowa. Her poetry blends Native symbolism, feminism, and jazz influences, creating a distinctive voice in American literature.
Notable works include She Had Some Horses (1983,) exploring identity and transformation, In Mad Love and War (1990,) winner of the American Book Award, and How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975–2002 (2002,) a retrospective of her poetic journey. Other acclaimed books include Crazy Brave (2012,) a memoir, and An American Sunrise (2019,) reflecting on Muscogee history and resilience.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Joy Harjo
It is memory that provides the heart with impetus, fuels the brain, and propels the corn plant from seed to fruit.
—Joy Harjo
Topics: Memory
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