Poetry Monday: Remember

 Remember

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 away to night.

Remember your birth, how your mother struggled

to give you form and breath.  You are evidence of 

her life, her mother's, and her's.

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 the 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.

---Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo (Este Mvskokvike or Muscogee) is the current Poet Laureate of the United States. She is also a musician, composer and actor.  This poem is from her collection She Had Some Horses.  I heard her read in the late 90s and met her briefly at the book-signing table afterwards.  I remember.