The Sacred Hoop Analysis

Joy Harjo is a contemporary Native American poet who is a member of the Mvskoke Nation. Her writing manifests her love and respect for nature, and conveys a sense of equality among humans and all other life forms. This Native American literature deviates from traditional Western literature for it creates an emphasis on harmony among all living things. As discussed in “The Sacred Hoop”, by Paula Gunn Allen, the two literatures differ so much because the cultures are so uncommon. Western literature tends to be an outlet for one to express emotions. On the other hand, Native American literature is more focused on conveying a harmonious and balanced sense of the world while directing one’s attention to the forces around one (Allen, 2). Joy Harjo …show more content…
At one point it suggests that looking at the eagle in the sky we see ourselves. This enforces her view on how we as humans are equal to all things in nature. A common Native American belief is that there is no hierarchical order of life forms on Earth. Instead all is seen to be relatives and therefore should be treated with equal respect and care (Allen, 4). As humans, we are not superior to other living things but instead just as important. The following line says “we must take the utmost care” referring to nature. It is our responsibility, that humans look after all living creatures for we must live in harmony to survive. We rely on them as much as they rely on us, it is a mutual relationship. The poem also discusses how there are other sounds we cant always hear but must account for. This means that although nature cannot verbally speak with us it does not mean we cannot communicate (Manes, 340). Especially with animals we can read their body language and even emphasize to know when they are hurting, and by the same token, animals may perceive what we feel. With nature we know it is suffering from the damage we do and we don't need to hear it from them to know. Harjo is encouraging us to act on this unspoken voice for it is just as important as our own. Christopher Manes writes in “Nature and Silence” that it is as if “we have compressed the entire buzzing, howling, gurgling biosphere into the narrow vocabulary of epistemology” (339). As reinforced in the poem we have ignored the sounds of nature and have placed our own needs on above it. In contrast to animistic cultures, we do not interact with nature with esteem at our own convenience. It is easier for us to regard nature as an inanimate object and focus on what is best for us. We have taken over the beauty of nature with no remorse. Harjo also positions the lines so that there is an awkward pause in between ideas. She