Research: Relax and call your spirit back

We could all use a little inspiration right now.

Poetry can do that. More than an art form, poetry has a psychological element — a window to emotion and purveyor of meanings. That’s plural because what poets convey may be different than what the rest of us take, and different again as time passes to the next reading. In essence, poetry evolves.

“Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.” — Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate

April is National Poetry Month.

A poet laureate of the United States has been appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress since the position was created in 1936 by philanthropist Archer M. Huntington. Many (perhaps most) have been Pulitzer Prize winners. Others were National Book Award winners and all with impressive accolades.

Some states and cities have their own poet laureates, or poet-writers in residence. Idaho has a few, including Moscow’s Susan Hodgin (2018) and Boise’s Diane Raptosh (2013).

They make us think. They make us feel. They put in words the indescribable complexity that is man.

Joy Harjo, appointed Poet Laureate in 2019, is an Oklahoma native and member of the Mvskoke/Creek Nation. Her poem excerpted below, “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet,” whispers nourishment to the soul:

“Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop. Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.

Open the door, then close it behind you.

Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean.

Give it back with gratitude.

If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back. Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire.

Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time.

Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters.

Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you. Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them.

Don’t worry …

Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time.

Do not hold regrets.

When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed …

Cut the ties you have to failure and shame.

Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction.

Ask for forgiveness.

Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor.

Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse.

You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return.

Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.

Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long …

Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.” — Joy Harjo (2019)

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who loves poetry but can’t write it. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.