Joy Harjo's Web Log

c Photo Joy Harjo 2007

"The only proof I needed for the existence of God was music."
Kurt Vonnegut November 11, 1922-April 10, 2007

I met Vonnegut when I was a graduate student at the University of Iowa, after he read to a packed auditorium, at the workshop post-reading party. Many of those post-reading parties were rife with shameless hustles by students and visiting writers for attention and publishing opportunities. Most of us went for the food and drink. We were hungry graduate students. I remember Vonnegut at the edge of the humming crowd, unmoved by adoration. He recognized the game. He was unpretentious. He came over and talked to me. He apologized for the way the people in this country treated Indians. Despite the images of violence that haunted him, Vonnegut remained in awe of creation. He was a real human being. We will miss him here.

JH