In the beginning, the Native American’s history is explored in a poetic manner, much like the poetry Joy Harjo usually writes. Living at the end of the Trail of Tears, she was born and raised in Oklahoma. Her mother was married at a young age but divorced when Joy was still young. She was tight with money and had to remarry, hoping for financially better times.
When Harjo’s mother remarried, she married a man that was seventeen years older than her, as well as stronger and bigger. Instead of taking care of the family, he spent his money on alcohol, drugs and women. When he was at home, he abused all the children as well as his wife. Joy was artistic and wished to use her talents but was kept on a leash by her stepfather.
When she finally left for boarding school, she flourished outside of the abusive space, going deeper into the arts she loved. When the hippie movement arrived, she started abusing drugs and became pregnant. Looking back Joy traces the repeated habits of abuse she and her family had, wishing she could have been on to break the line.
She married twice, bot marriages ending in divorce before she settled down on her own, opening her house to victims of abuse. She had seen abuse in her life at home, as well as in her own personal relationships and understood the impact it had on lives. Writing poetry, which is still something she does, she is able to express and show herself to the world.
