“IE EIC CACD….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: Y = S
ANSWER: “NO ONE EVER TRULY DIES. THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS MAKE A PATH. WE CREATE LEGACY WITH OUR THOUGHTS AND DREAMS.” —JOY HARJO
Joy Harjo
May 9, 1951 • 75 years old • American Poet, Musician & Author
✒️ A Powerful American Voice
Joy Harjo is an American poet, author, musician, and member of the Muscogee Nation. Her writing explores Native American history, identity, family, spirituality, and the natural world. She became the first Native American to serve as United States Poet Laureate.
🌎 Growing Up in Oklahoma
Harjo was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up surrounded by the cultural traditions and history of her Muscogee heritage. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe before studying at the University of New Mexico and earning a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Iowa.
📚 A Life in Poetry
Harjo published her first poetry collection, The Last Song, in 1975. Her later books include She Had Some Horses, In Mad Love and War, The Woman Who Fell from the Sky, and An American Sunrise. Her poetry often combines personal memories with Indigenous storytelling, history, and vivid imagery.
🏛️ United States Poet Laureate
In 2019, Harjo became the first Native American appointed United States Poet Laureate. She served three terms, through 2022, using the position to highlight Indigenous poetry and storytelling. Her signature project, Living Nations, Living Words, celebrated Native poets from across the United States.
🎷 Poetry Meets Music
Harjo is also an accomplished musician who performs as a vocalist and saxophonist. Her music blends poetry, jazz, rock, and Indigenous musical influences. She has released several recordings, bringing her storytelling to audiences through both spoken words and songs.
🏆 Honors & Literary Legacy
Harjo has received numerous literary honors, including the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Wallace Stevens Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. She has also written memoirs, including Crazy Brave and Poet Warrior, and helped bring greater national recognition to Native American literature and contemporary Indigenous voices.
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