Repetition In Joy Harjo's Poem 'New Orleans'

185 Words1 Pages
Throughout the poem “New Orleans,” Joy Harjo utilizes repetition in order to emphasize her message. One example of repetition paired with a metaphor as well outlines her reasoning for visiting the city, “My spirit comes here to drink. / My spirit comes here to drink” (Harjo 98). Harjo is comparing one’s ancestry or past with a nourishing drink. She is stating she has come to New Orleans to fulfill a hole in her life and nourish it. This hole being a lack of knowledge on her past and heritage. The “drinking” action would be Harjo absorbing the culture and history of the city and therefore her own. Her argument is that knowing or acknowledging the past allows for a fuller understanding of the present and brings a new depth to oneself. Also,