Remember

Happy Memorial Day.

May you set aside a private moment today to remember those men and women, so many in or barely out of their teens, who died in service to our country. And, while you're at it, remember those men and women throughout history who died in defense of their families and loved ones. And those men and women and children who died trying to escape persecution whether political, social, religious or personal. Remember people and places that died from neglect. Or indifference. Loneliness.

Remember who you are and how many people, known or unknown to you, sacrificed something so you can be here today. We often feel our individuality keenly, even proudly -- forgetting just how deeply connected and indebted to each other we really are.

Four years ago, when my husband died, a friend wrote out this Joy Harjo poem as a note of condolence. It was perfect. No more needed to be said. I have kept it displayed in my room and read it often. I pass it along to you today. It is called "Remember."

Remember the sky that you were born under,

know each of the star’s stories.

Remember the moon, know who she is.

Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the

strongest point of time. Remember sundown

and the giving away to night.

Remember your birth, how your mother struggled

to give you form and breath. You are evidence of

her life, and her mother’s, and hers.

Remember your father. He is your life, also.

Remember the earth whose skin you are:

red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth

brown earth, we are earth.

Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their

tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,

listen to them. They are alive poems.

Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the

origin of this universe.

Remember you are all people and all people

are you.

Remember you are this universe and this

universe is you.

Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.

Remember language comes from this.

Remember the dance language is, that life is.

Remember.

by Joy Harjo © 1983

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5/26/25