Meet America's First Native Poet Laureate

Meet America's First Native Poet Laureate

Joy Harjo, the first Native American to be named U.S. poet laureate, has been ready for such a responsibility for a long time.

“I’ve been an unofficial poetry ambassador¹ -- on the road for poetry for years,” Harjo wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “I’ve often been the only poet or Native poet-person that many have seen, met, heard.”

The Library of Congress announced Harjo’s appointment to the position on Wednesday. Librarian Carla Hayden said in a statement that Harjo helped tell an “American story” of traditions both lost and kept.

Harjo’s term is for one year. She follows Tracy K. Smith, who served as the nation's poet laureate for two terms. The laureate receives $35,000 to carry out special projects meant to spread appreciation² of the reading and writing of poetry.

Harjo said she does not yet have defined³ plans for her year as the country’s official poet. But she said she wants to “bring the contribution of poetry of the tribal⁴ nations to the forefront and include it in the discussion of poetry.”

Harjo is a member of the Muscogee Creek⁵ Nation. She is 68 years old and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is known for such collections as “The Woman Who Fell From the Sky” and “In Mad Love and War.”

Her writing style is forceful and intimate, and includes elements from the natural and spiritual world.

A new book of her own poems, “An American Sunrise,” comes out in August.

Along with poetry, Harjo also dances and paints. At the age of 40, she decided⁶ to learn how to play the saxophone. She has since recorded several musical albums.

Harjo told the AP, “I began writing poetry because I didn’t hear Native women’s voices in the discussion of policy, of how we were going to move forward in a way that is respectful and honors those basic human laws that are common to all people.”

She considers her poem “Rabbit Is Up To Tricks” to be an expression of political thought.

The poem tells of a tricky⁷ Rabbit who has become lonely, and so forms a man out of clay and teaches him to steal. The clay man learns too well, stealing animals, food and another man’s wife. He moves on to gold and land and control of the world.

Listen to part of the poem.

And Rabbit had no place to play.

Rabbit’s trick had backfired.

Rabbit tried to call the clay man back,

but when the clay man wouldn’t listen

Rabbit realized he’d made a clay man with no ears.

I’m Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

poet laureate - n. a poet who is honored by being chosen for an official position by a ruler or government

appreciation - n. an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something

contribution - n. a piece of writing that is published as part of a larger work

forefront - n. the most important part or position

intimate - adj. very closely related or connected

clay - n. a heavy, sticky material from the earth that is made into different shapes and that becomes hard when it is baked or dried

1 ambassador   

n.大使，特使，（派驻国际组织的）代表

参考例句：

• He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

2 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

3 defined   

adj 定义的; 清晰的

参考例句：

• These categories are not well defined. 这些类别划分得不太明确。
• The powers of a judge are defined by law. 法官的权限是由法律规定的。

4 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

5 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。