“Perhaps the World Ends Here” by Joy Harjo

“Perhaps the World Ends Here” by Joy Harjo

 

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

 

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

 

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

 

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

 

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

 

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

 

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

 

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

 

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

 

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

 

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

 

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Food for Thought—

 

  1. Throughout the poem, Harjo utilizes pronouns such as “we” over “I” or “you.” What does Harjo imply by using phrases intended to embrace all readers?

 

  1. What is the table a metaphor for?

 

  1. In line 8, Harjo states, “Wars have begun and ended at this table.” It can be assumed that she isn’t referring to literal wars, so what are possible other meanings of this statement?

 

  1. It’s interesting that Harjo would reference a table for a family meeting point: In her childhood, Harjo had a fairly broken family life, especially when it came to her parents. Why, then, does she choose the family table as the overarching metaphor?

 

  1. In line 2 Harjo says, “The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.” What does she mean by this?