Remember
by Joy Harjo
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.
Summary of the Remember
- Popularity of “Remember”: This beautiful poem is written by Joy Harjo, an influential American poet. It was first published in 1951. The poem illustrates how important is it to remember our actual identities. The poet wants us to remember and own every aspect of our life. However, the simple subject matter and somber tone make the readers understand the intended meanings of the poem. Also, it adds more to its popularity and uniqueness.
- “Remember” As a Reflection of Poet’s Thoughts: This beautiful poem serves as a reminder. The speaker wants us to remember everything which has played a significant or insignificant role in our growth. The poem begins when she wants us that we should remember the natural objects in that they have also played a pivotal role in our lives. Also, we should remember the sacrifices of our parents as they endured hardships to give us a better life. The poet also wants us to remember all the species of the universe because they have stories to share. We must listen and comprehend their strange stories. It means that human beings are part of the universe. Through this poem, readers realize the importance of everything in the universe.
- Major Themes in “Remember”: The beauty of nature, remembrance, and connectivity are the major themes of the poem. Throughout the text, the speaker makes us realize how even the slightest or unimportant things have their roles in our lives. We need to remember the beauty of Mother Nature that it has allowed us to live each day to the fullest. We also bear in mind the role of our parents in our life. In fact, the poet wants us to remember where we have come from. This thought-provoking piece connects us to nature, the universe, the past, and each other. It reminds us that we are connected to the sunset, the dawn, to the earth, to our communities, animals, and every object of nature. If we recognize this strong connection, we will cherish them and treat them with respect.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Remember”
literary devices bring richness to the text and also make the reader understand the text’s hidden meanings. Joy Harjo has also made this poem superb, using figurative language. Here is the analysis of some literary devices used in this poem.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /i/ in “Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you” and the sound of /uh/ in “Remember your birth, how your mother struggled.”
- Alliteration: It shows the use of consonant sounds in the initials of the consecutive words such as the sound of /s/ in “know each of the star’s stories.”
- Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. The word “remember” is repeated throughout the poem to emphasize the point. For example,
“Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
“Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.”
- Epigraph: It is a device used in a form of a poem, quote, or sentence, usually placed in the beginning of the poem to suggest the overall theme of the poem. For example, it is used in the opening line, “Remember the sky that you were born under.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “Remember your birth, how your mother struggled”, “Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their/tribes, their families, their histories, too” and “red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth/brown earth, we are earth.”
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The word “remember” symbolizes everything we are made of.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Remember”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Free Verse: Free verse is a type of poetry that does not contain patterns of rhyme or meter. This is a free-verse poem with no strict rhyme or meter.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. This poem can be considered as a short piece with no stanza break in it.
- Repetition: A word or phrase repeated several times in verses becomes a repetition. The poem shows the use of repetition such as “Remember” that occurs at the beginning of several verses.
Quotes to be Used
The lines stated below are suitable for children to realize how our parents endure hardships and pains to give us a better life. Therefore, we should respect their opinions in life and try not to let them down at any step of life.
“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.”