How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975-2002

How We Became Human collects three decades of poetry from Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and United States Poet Laureate. The volume includes selections from her previous works along with new poems written between 1975-2002. The collection traces Harjo's journey as a poet through different phases of her career and life experiences. Her verses move through memories of childhood in Oklahoma, observations of contemporary Native American life, and reflections on history, nature, and identity. The poems incorporate elements of Native American oral traditions and music, with many referencing jazz and traditional Creek songs. Harjo writes in free verse and prose poems, creating rhythms that echo both ancestral storytelling and modern urban landscapes. These poems explore the intersection of personal and tribal memory, examining what it means to maintain cultural identity in a changing world. The work speaks to transformation, survival, and the ongoing process of becoming fully human through connection to land, family, and tradition.

Readers connect with Harjo's poetic exploration of Native American identity, spirituality, and resilience. Many note how her poems weave personal experiences with broader cultural narratives. Likes: - Raw emotional honesty about indigenous experiences - Skillful blending of myth and modern life - Musical quality of the language - Strong sense of place and nature imagery - Clear progression of her poetic voice over time Dislikes: - Some find earlier poems less polished - A few readers note repetitive themes - Collections's organization feels scattered to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) Reader Quote: "Her poetry reads like music and prayer combined" - Goodreads reviewer Many readers specifically praise "Remember," "She Had Some Horses," and "Perhaps the World Ends Here" as standout poems that resonate with themes of memory and cultural preservation.

When My Brother Was an Aztec by Natalie Diaz This collection weaves Native American traditions with contemporary life through poems about family relationships and cultural identity.

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine The poems and prose pieces examine race, identity, and belonging in American society through personal and collective experiences.

Blood Run by Allison Hedge Coke These poems give voice to an ancient Native American burial ground and its inhabitants through multiple perspectives across time.

Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey The collection connects personal history with historical events through poems about race, memory, and the American South.

Whereas by Layli Long Soldier The poems respond to the U.S. government's treaties and apologies to Native Americans while exploring language, identity, and resistance.

🌟 Joy Harjo is the first Native American to be named U.S. Poet Laureate (2019-2022), serving an unprecedented three terms in the position 🎷 Besides being a poet, Harjo is an accomplished saxophone player who has released several albums combining poetry and music, reflecting the musical influences found in her poetry collection 🗺️ The book spans 27 years of Harjo's work and traces her journey from her tribal homeland in Oklahoma to the Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii, incorporating themes of displacement and homecoming 🦅 Many poems in the collection feature animal imagery, particularly eagles and hawks, which are significant in Muscogee Creek mythology and represent spiritual transformation 🌎 The title "How We Became Human" references both evolution and Native American creation stories, exploring the intersection between ancient tribal wisdom and contemporary experience in modern America