Joy Harjo

Remember you are this universe, and this universe is you.

On Saturday, April 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Belle Isle Library is hosting recent U.S. Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo and celebrating her upcoming children's book, Remember illustrated by Michaela Goade.

After renovation, the Belle Isle Library opened on April 8, 2022 with a sculpture titled, Nourishment, that has en excerpt from Joy Harjo's poem Remember.

Join us as we hear from Joy Harjo, celebrate poetry month and our connection to the Earth, and the 1-year anniversary of the Belle Isle Library re-opening! Begin the day by meeting Joy Harjo and hearing her read her poetry and stay for family-friendly activities.

Joy Harjo will be available for a book signing following her presentation. Books will be sold by Full Circle Bookstore. Joy Harjo and Michaela Goade's books will also be available for check out from the library.

Earth Day and Poetry Month Events

Coding Club

4:00pm–5:30pm

Kids, Teens

Warr Acres Library

Registration Required

Capacity has been reached. Additional registrants will be placed on the waitlist.

Library Branch: Warr Acres Library

Room: Meeting Room A (Warr Acres)

Age Group: Kids, Teens

Program Type: Computers & Technology, Science & STEAM

Registration Required

Event Description:

Coding and Poetry!

April is poetry month and so this week we will be learning to write poetry using scratch coding.

Disclaimer(s)

Be Advised: This program may be photographed and/or videotaped for publicity purposes.

By Attending, you consent: To the use of your voice and likeness in future publicity uses that contain content from this event. If you do not wish to be on camera, please let us know.

For more information visit our Photography & Video Disclaimer

Teen Ransom Note Poetry

6:00pm–7:00pm

Teens

Almonte Library

Library Branch: Almonte Library

Room: Meeting Room (Almonte)

Age Group: Teens

Program Type: Arts & Crafts, DIY & Hobbies

Event Description:

Teens ages 13-17 come join us at the Almonte Library on April 14th @ 6pm to celebrate Poetry Month! We'll cut and paste to create an original poem in a ransom note style using recycled magazines and newspapers.

Disclaimer(s)

We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens. Accordingly, the Library will not be liable for such harm to any individual resulting from such allergens.

Creative Writing Wednesday

5:30pm–7:30pm

Adults

Warr Acres Library

Registration Required

Registration will close on April 15, 2026 @ 5:30pm.

Library Branch: Warr Acres Library

Room: Meeting Room A (Warr Acres)

Age Group: Adults

Program Type: Writing

Registration Required

Event Description:

Have you always wanted to explore creative writing but never had the chance? Are you looking for a supportive community of writers with whom you can share your work?

Introduction to Poetry

6:00pm–7:30pm

Teens, Adults

Northwest Library

Registration Required

Registration will open on April 8, 2026 @ 9:00am.

Library Branch: Northwest Library

Room: Meeting Room B (Northwest)

Age Group: Teens, Adults

Program Type: Writing

Registration Required

Event Description:

Whether you're a poetry lover or feel like you don't quite "get" poetry, this session is for you.

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About Joy

Joy Harjo is an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She served three terms as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2019-2022 and is the winner of Yale's 2023 Bollingen Prize for American Poetry.

The author of ten books of poetry, including the highly acclaimed, Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years, several plays and children's books, and two memoirs, Crazy Brave and Poet Warrior, her many honors include the National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ruth Lily Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the Poetry Foundation, the Academy of American Poets Wallace Stevens Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. As a musician and performer, Harjo has produced seven-award winning music albums including her newest, I Pray for My Enemies. She served as Executive Editor of the anthology When the Light of the World was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through - A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry and the editor of Living Nations, Living Words: An Anthology of First Peoples Poetry, the companion anthology to her signature Poet Laureate project.

She is a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, Board of Directors Chair of the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, and is the first Artist-in-Residence for Tulsa's Bob Dylan Center. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.