We Inherit What the Fires Left: A Haunting Exploration of Identity, Trauma, and Resilience

In her acclaimed collection of poems, We Inherit What the Fires Left, Joy Harjo, the first Native American United States Poet Laureate, weaves a lyrical tapestry that explores the complexities of identity, trauma, and resilience through the lens of her Muscogee Creek heritage and her experiences as a Native American woman.

We Inherit What the Fires Left: Poems

by William Evans

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1102 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	159 pages
Item Weight	:	11.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.62 x 8.5 inches
Paperback	:	274 pages

FREE

Harjo's poems are a testament to the enduring spirit of her people, who have faced centuries of oppression, displacement, and cultural genocide. Through her evocative use of language and imagery, she gives voice to the pain and suffering of her ancestors, while also celebrating their strength and resilience.

One of the key themes that emerges in We Inherit What the Fires Left is the importance of reclaiming and honoring one's cultural heritage. Harjo writes about the ways in which her Muscogee Creek traditions have shaped her identity and provided her with a sense of belonging and purpose.

In the poem "For Calling Back the Spirit," she writes:

I call back the spirit
of my grandmothers
in the firelight.
I call back the spirit
of my grandfathers
in the drumbeat.
I call back the spirit
of my people
in the heartbeat.

Through her poetry, Harjo also sheds light on the devastating impact of colonialism and racism on Native American communities. She writes about the loss of land, language, and culture, and the intergenerational trauma that has resulted from these experiences.

In the poem "The Woman Who Watches," she writes:

She remembers the day
the soldiers came,
the day the buffalo
were slaughtered.
She remembers the day
the children were taken
to boarding schools.

Despite the pain and suffering she writes about, Harjo's poems are ultimately a celebration of resilience and hope. She believes that through storytelling and the power of language, we can heal from the wounds of the past and create a better future for ourselves and our communities.

In the poem "The Song I Sing," she writes:

I sing the song
of my ancestors
and the song
of my children.
I sing the song
of my people
and the song
of all those
who have been silenced.

We Inherit What the Fires Left is a powerful and moving collection of poems that offers a unique and deeply personal perspective on the complexities of identity, trauma, and resilience. Harjo's writing is both lyrical and deeply evocative, and her poems are sure to resonate with readers long after they have finished reading them.

Further Reading

• We Inherit What the Fires Left by Joy Harjo
• Joy Harjo, First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, Reinvents the Role
• Review: Joy Harjo's 'An American Sunrise' Shows the Power of Poetry

We Inherit What the Fires Left: Poems

by William Evans

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1102 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	159 pages
Item Weight	:	11.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.62 x 8.5 inches
Paperback	:	274 pages

FREE