Remember

This poem was contributed by Allie Wollner, a writer and community organizer in Oakland, CA.

Remember by Joy Harjo

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, and her mother’s, and hers.

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 this 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.

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What about your heritage is important to you to remember?

2. “You are the universe and this universe is you.” Have you ever felt that this was true?
If so, when? What conditions made this feeling possible?

3. What were the circumstances of your birth?  Do you think they have any bearing on your life today?

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