Joy Harjo's Web Log

I'm so sorry that this happened. Your statement on how to deal with it and work through it is excellent. I've had the same thing with my actual website and a tag board I had on there. Some folks found it funny or just suffer from mean spiritedness and left some completely off the wall coments.

It was VERY hurtful as first. I took it so personal. Then it occured to me...why is it that 99% of what is posted is super positive and I'm letting this 1% of nastiness just ruin my whole day (or longer sometimes) Why am I focusing on the negative instead of all that fantastic feel good positive?? So I just let it go. But it really took some doing, lots of late night thinking about why I was focusing so much on the wrong area.

What you do is so beautiful it just can't be stopped by jealousy and bitterness. Keep up the good work! And thank you...your work is amazing, I just love it!

Very best to you and yours, have a beautiful day! ~~ Christine
 

AHO JOY,

I ADMIRE THAT YOU HAVE NOT ONLY HAD THE COURAGE TO SPEAK SO HONESTLY ABOUT MANY THINGS;
YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY GRACIOUS (ON YOUR SITE) IN ALLOWING OTHERS TO ESTABLISH SOME SENSE OF DIALOGUE AS HUMAN BEINGS.
MANY PEOPLE CANNOT DO THIS, BECAUSE THEY LACK HONEST HUMILITY, OR THEY CANNOT DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND INSECURE ARROGANCE.

I AM TRULY SORRY THAT THERE ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT THOUGHT, AND THEY ARE SO THREATENED BY AND FEARFUL OF IDEAS, THAT THEY MUST ATTACK THE SOURCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MOST HUMANS STILL CANNOT SEE THE LARGER PICTURE, WHICH LOOMS ALL AROUND US.
PERHAPS THEY ARE STILL TOO AFRAID TO OPEN THEIR EYES.
TO PARAPHRASE AN OLD STATEMENT; IT IS VERY HARD TO BE AWARE OF THE FOREST, IF ONE SPENDS ALL OF THEIR TIME COWERING BEHIND A TREE.

SINCE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS SAID TO YOU, I CANNOT RESPOND FURTHER.
I CAN ONLY SAY THIS: ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN AS FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WORK AS MANY OTHERS, I CONTINUE TO BE MORE IMPRESSED WITH EACH NEW ASPECT THAT I READ.

YOU HAVE ENVISIONED AND ILLUMINATED THE POETRY OF THE JOURNEY.
YOU UNDERSTAND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE "MYSTERY" OF NOT KNOWING WHERE OUR NEXT STEPS AND MISSTEPS WILL LEAD.
RECENTLY, ONE OF MY ELDERS TOLD ME THAT HE COULD SEE A SENSE OF SACRED SPIRIT WITHIN THE ONE TO WHOM HE SPOKE.
I SEE THIS SAME SENSE OF SACRED SPIRIT WITHIN YOUR WORDS, AND MUSIC.
CONTINUE TO BE STRONG, AND FEEL THE LOVE, PEACE AND HARMONY WHICH THOSE WHO MAY RECOGNIZE THE PATH, CONTINUE TO WISH FOR YOU.

WI BTHAH HAHN (MVTO)
WHITEHORSE
 

have no idea who would dare leave a stink comment on the blog of one of our most gifted, living, native poet.

btw, kudos on use of the oklahoma ndn slang word, "stink".

mvto,
always in admiration of your work
-jason, creek boy/man, from oklahoma now in abq.-sat with you and your mother in norman when you later had a giveaway and gave everyone a free book and i foolishly lent my copy to an anglo hippie who never gave it back-she said her cat scatched the cover and peed on it.
 

Dear Joy Harjo,
Greetings!
I recently used a quote from your blog on my blog, "I can see clealry now." I have long been an admirer of your work and fan.

Blessings,
Geoffrey
 

I just found your blog and, honestly, it feels like an honor to be allowed to comment here. I have been influenced by your poetry for at least 20 years and I thank you for that.

There will always be people who want to spread their nastiness, for reasons I don't understand. I'm glad it didn't change your mind about enabling comments.

Peace to you, too!
 

Jason, What book was it? Let me know.