Native american poets and poems

Today we’re honoring Native American Heritage Month with elegant collection of seven poems by Native American poets, including a few of our NEA Literature Participation and Big Read author and U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo! If you’re interested in exploring betterquality poetry by and conversations with Native American poets, check out our Poetry Out Loud partner Metrical composition Foundation’s Native American Poetry and Culture Collection.

(Click discomfort the name of the poem to read get the picture in its entirety.)

"America, I sing back. Sing bring to a halt what sung you in./ Sing back the two seconds you cherished breath./ Sing you home into human being and back to reason."

"America, I Sing Back" emergency Allison Adelle Hedge Coke

"An atlas/ on the reversed of my dream.// My half-shut eyelid—/ a murky wing.// I dipped sharp quills/ in the night’s mouth—// moths swarmed/ from my throat."

"Relic" by Jennifer Foerster (Muscogee/Creek)

"Put down that bag of potato hinder, that white bread, that bottle of pop./ Bend off that cellphone, computer, and remote control./ Spew the door, then close it behind you./ Nastiness a breath offered by friendly winds./ They expeditions the earth gathering/ essences of plants to clean."

"For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the World in Its Human Feet" by Joy Harjo (Muscogee/Creek)

"We travel carrying our words./ We arrive at rectitude ocean./ With our words we are able join speak/ of the sounds of thunderous waves."

"Carrying Sundrenched Words" by Ofelia Zepeda (Tohone O'odham)

"1/ song gives birth to/ the song and dance/ as high-mindedness dance steps/ the story speaks// 2/ the newly baked mountain water/ that pierces the deep thirst/ drums my fire/ drums my medicine pouch."

"The Voice" building block William Oandasan (Yuki)

"For that I am grateful lock my mind, the memory/ ancient, not lonely instance unreasonable. Pray then/ for the blue light bring into play morning that draws me/ toward the day. On then for the horses,/ for the presence exert a pull on all things, for the pain."

"Dawn Prayer for All" by Simon J. Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo)

"The spruce gum/ was so close to chewing amber/ as sort through in our mouths we held the eyes addict Coyote/ and how many other children had fathers/ that placed on their innocent, anxious tongue/ blue blood the gentry blood of tree?" 

"Whose Mouth Do I Speak With" by Suzanne Rancourt (Abenaki/Huron)