Classy Quotes

Quotes from readings in my creative nonfiction, Native American lit, and Japanese religion classes that captured my attention lately:

"I also have a commanding stare, large sad brown eyes that can either be read as gentle or severe"

"Many times, my ironic smile is nothing more than a neutral stall among people who do not seem to appreciate my 'contribution.'"-- Phillip Lapote, "Portrait of My Body"

"We gather at the shore of all knowledge as peoples who were put here by a god who wanted relatives.
This god was lonely for touch, and imagined herself as a woman, with children to suckle, to sing with-- to continue the web of the terrifyingly beautiful cosmos of her womb.
This god became a father who wished for others to walk beside him in the belly of creation.
This god laughed and cried with us as a sister at the sweet tragedy of our predicament-- foolish humans
Or built a fire, as our brother to keep us warm
This god who grew to love us became our lover, sharing tables of food enough for everyone in this whole world"-- Joy Harjo, "Reconciliation, A Prayer"

"I'm not afraid of love
or its consequence of light"-- Joy Harjo, "A Creation Story"

"For Christ's purpose is not for us to fathom. His love is a hook sunk deep into our flesh, a question mark that pulls with every breath. Some can dull themselves to the barb's presence. I cannot."-- Louise Erdrich, Tracks 

"Listening to the old stories and reading books are for the purpose of sloughing off one's own discrimination and attaching oneself to that of the ancients"

"The highest Way is in discussion with others"-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo, The Book of the Samurai