{"id":324,"date":"2022-06-21T11:23:51","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T11:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/breakthecycle.org\/fear-poem-by-joy-harjo\/"},"modified":"2023-11-24T19:46:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T19:46:05","slug":"fear-poem-by-joy-harjo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/blog\/fear-poem-by-joy-harjo\/","title":{"rendered":"Fear Poem by Joy Harjo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In \u201cFear Poem,\u201d Joy Harjo literally speaks to her fear, addressing it as a separate organism from herself. She releases it, declaring that it no longer consumes her life in the way it once did.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This poem is relevant to those struggling with relationship abuse as, in the midst of an abusive relationship, fear can sometimes make leaving seem impossible. It gives an inspiring message, emphasizing courage in the face of fear and suggesting our ability to recover from debilitating and frightening times.<\/p>\n

“I release you, my beautiful and terrible

\nfear. I release you. You were my beloved

\nand hated twin, but now, I don’t know you

\nas myself.”<\/p>\n

Harjo refers to her fear as a twin, suggesting that she once saw it as an extension or a part of herself, something permanent which she could not overcome. Further, the use of the words \u201cbeautiful\u201d and \u201cbeloved\u201d suggests that she looked to her fear as something she could rely on and hide behind. This reliance makes it all the more powerful that she has learned to overcome it.<\/p>\n

“You can’t live in my eye, my ears, my voice

\nmy belly, or in my heart my heart

\nmy heart my heart”<\/p>\n

Harjo banishes fear from all parts of her body. The repetition of the phrase \u201cmy heart\u201d shows the emotional empowerment she feels as a result.<\/p>\n

The full poem can be found here:
http:\/\/www.vadv.org\/Resources\/fear.html<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n