Symbolism In Joy Harjo's Poems

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1951, Joy Harjo is, “an internationally known poet, writer, performer, and saxophone player of the Mvskoke/Creek Nation”. Her poems not only feature Indian symbolism but imagery, history, nature and repetition as well. She writes in such a way that helps you completely visualize what she is writing, you feel as if you are sitting next to her being told the story personally.
Much of Harjo’s work discusses major occurrences in history such as the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 in her poem, “When the World as We Knew It Ended”. According to the Poetry Foundation, “To read the poetry of Joy Harjo is to hear the voice of the earth, to see the landscape of time and timelessness, and, most important, to get …show more content…
This poem is a perfect representation of Harjo’s writing. It uses all of her main features such as imagery, nature and Indian symbolism. In "Eagle Poem", there is a craving for liberty, for one to be able to express their self freely like an eagle, and for "one whole voice that is you." Harjo is explaining, with her use of the eagle as a symbol, that there is more to life than many ever experience and that you must continue searching in "circles of motion," on a journey for the truth and for a satisfaction that can only be found through reaching within oneself. Harjo is trying to say that life should never be taken advantage of, and an eagle is a perfect example of the strength, quality and adventure that is to be found throughout life. Harjo's depiction of "Eagle," is the relationship amongst man on earth and man's spiritual potential. “Eagle Poem” can sweep "our hearts clean," and, Harjo states that we can "pray that it will be done, in beauty" despite how unforgiving life can be. Just like many of Harjo’s other poems, the “Eagle Poem”, takes you on an adventure and lets you visualize the eagle, “that Sunday morning over Salt River, circled in blue sky, in