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Thought ISSUE 24

Joyful Sound

BY Louisa McCune

An undated photo provided by the Library of Congress shows Joy Harjo, the first Native American to become poet laureate of the United States. (Shawn Miller/Library of Congress via The New York Times)
Shawn Miller for Library of Congress/The New York Times/Redux
An undated photo provided by the Library of Congress shows Joy Harjo, the first Native American to become poet laureate of the United States. At a time when hate crimes, inequality and white supremacy appear to be on the rise, some news stories offered a little hope. (Shawn Miller/Library of Congress via The New York Times) **EDITORIAL USE ONLY**

IN MARCH, JOY HARJO, the United States Poet Laureate, released a new album of work, I Pray for My Enemies. Her collaborator Barrett Martin, a legendary producer and engineer, pieced together a network of musicians to support the poet’s work on the recordings.

“Martin holds it all together with drums, upright bass, keyboards and production duties on I Pray for My Enemies,” according to the Pearl Jam foundation, Vitalogy. “He assembled an all-star band to explore Harjo’s work, featuring Peter Buck (R.E.M.) on electric guitar and feedback; Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) on electric guitar solos; Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) on acoustic guitar; and Rich Robinson (Black Crowes) on electric guitar solos. Additional players include renowned Iraqi oud master Rahim Alhaj; trumpeter Dave Carter, and percussionist/backing vocalist Lisette Garcia. Harjo’s stepdaughters sing harmony vocals, and her husband Owen Sapulpa plays surdo drum on the album.”

The Tulsa resident is the first Native American writer to be named the nation’s poet laureate and only the second poet to have a third term in the role. Harjo, whose desk appeared in ArtDesk in 2020, is one of our most favorite Joys. She keeps a busy touring and virtual schedule; that and more at joyharjo.com.