I started writing to save my life. Joy Harjo More Quotes by Joy Harjo More Quotes From Joy Harjo Bottom line, I have to follow what my soul says, or my spirit. And my spirit said that poetry and the arts should be without borders, should be without political borders. Joy Harjo my-soul political poetry soul We're all given something to do. And when we don't follow what we're supposed to do, we always know when we're off track. Joy Harjo follow something know always I come from a long line of revolutionaries. Joy Harjo long-line line come long My ancestors include Monahwee, who was one of the leaders in the Red Stick War, which was the largest Indian uprising in history, and Osceola, who refused to sign a treaty with the United States. Joy Harjo ancestors red war history I never fit in. Everyone knew my dad was Indian. I was half-Indian. Joy Harjo everyone never indian dad When explorers first encountered my people, they called us heathens, sun worshippers. They didn't understand that the sun is a relative and illuminates our path on this earth. Joy Harjo understand path sun people I am a member of the Muskogee people. I'm a poet, a musician, a dreamer of sorts, a questioner. Like everyone else, I'm looking for answers of some sort or the other. Joy Harjo everyone i-am looking people Most people don't know that Congo Square was originally a Muscogee ceremonial ground... in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Joy Harjo new know jazz people You just go where poetry is, whether it's in your heart or your mind or in books or in places where there's live poetry or recordings. Joy Harjo you poetry mind heart You can't look for love, or it will run away from you. But, you know, don't look for it. Don't look for it. Just go where it is and appreciate it, and, you know, it will find you. Joy Harjo look you appreciate love I chose poetry. Actually, poetry chose me. Joy Harjo chose actually me poetry The radio is playing jazz, and I listen to the sound of the trumpet playing a solo until I become that sound. Joy Harjo listen jazz radio sound I hear from my Inuit and Yupik relatives up north that everything has changed. It's so hot; there is not enough winter. Animals are confused. Ice is melting. Joy Harjo confused enough hot winter I love the sound of the saxophone. It became my singing voice, and it sounds so human. The saxophone could carry the words past the border of words. It can carry it a little bit farther. Joy Harjo words singing love past My mother wrote lyrics and sang but was overtaken by life with four children and worked. Joy Harjo lyrics mother life children
