Hearing Joy Harjo

On Oct. 25, I was pleased to watch Hope College professor emeritus and poet Jack Ridl host a conversation with the 23rd poet laureate of the United States, Joy Harjo, as a part of this year's NEA Big Read Lakeshore lineup.  I am currently reading the related book selection, Harjo's An American Sunrise: Poems.

Quote of the Day

Music is a moral law.  It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything.  

-- Plato

Quote of the Day

To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself.  And that's political, in its most profound way.

-- June Jordan

Quote of the Day

stories entertain

engage, outrage

uplift, help us

overcome

our troubles

-- Laurie Halse Anderson, SHOUT, p. 291

Quote of the Day

the spines of books connect

page to page

writer to reader

teacher to student

page to page

past to future

pain to power

page to page

rage to peace

-- Laurie Halse Anderson, SHOUT, p. 289

Quote of the Day

As I type this, the Supreme Court is reviewing a case about whether it should be legal to fire someone if they're gay...As those who would dismantle our rights repeatedly run the protections back on my marriage, it occurs to me that I can't cope with finding out that there's no such thing as precedent.  That my family could cease to be protected under the law.  I'm not going to sugarcoat it: this is what it means to be an LGBTQ American citizen today.

-- Brandi Carlile, Broken Horses, p. 194-195

Quote of the Day

When you are told your whole life that it's wrong for two women or two men to marry, when your homeland agrees and when you realize that you believe it, too, deep within your primitive senses, a reckoning is imperative.  It is a process but it's mandatory whether you're LGBTQ or not.  A person's self-worth is dictated by what inalienable rights are allowed to them.  The right to not live your life alone is a big one.  If your family can accept you, if they want to celebrate your life and bear witness to your solemn vow, you'll have as many weddings as you need to.

-- Brandi Carlile, Broken Horses, p. 171

Quote of the Day

Write your life.  No matter how young or old.  Even if you feel like you're not interesting enough.  Do it.  Believe me you are.  Your life is in fact twisted and beautiful and you'll find that as you peel back the layers, the unexpected side effect is that it feels wonderful to be known.  Even if it's just by you.

-- Brandi Carlile, Broken Horses, p. 307-308

Quote of the Day

People in this country who are in positions of privilege must learn to find ways of fighting for the just treatment of others not by centering and platforming themselves but by holding up the ones who are suffering.

-- Brandi Carlile, Broken Horses, p. 301

Quote of the Day

Maybe we all just want to be immortal.  To leave imprints and art and moments and words.

-- Brandi Carlile, Broken Horses, p. 292

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I heard someone from the music business saying they are no longer looking for talent; they want people with a certain look and a willingness to cooperate.  I thought, that's interesting, because I believe a total unwillingness to cooperate is what is necessary to be an artist -- not for perverse reasons, but to protect your vision.  The considerations of a corporation, especially now, have nothing to do with art or music.  That's why I spend my time now painting.

-- Joni Mitchell

Quote of the Day

Scott Avett and Joni Mitchell, two of my favorite painters, actually both paint themselves a lot.  It's not vain; it's a superpower to know what you look like -- not on the surface, but what you really look like.  It's even more of a superpower to know and accept it.  Now, here's the truly unattainable nirvana...what if you could actually know -- even love it?  Most people are unaware of the story their eyes tell or the way their lines show us how often they've laughed.  I don't want to be worried about my face or my body.  I want to love it ... I wanted to know what I look like and not just accept it but completely embrace it.

-- Brandi Carlile, Broken Horses, p. 239