--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remember the plants, trees, animal life…" description: "\"Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their families, their histories too. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems.\" — Joy Harjo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/joy-harjo-14629_alive_remember-the-plants-trees-animal-life-wh_790083.png" --- # Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their… ![“Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their families, their histories too. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems.” quote by Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/joy-harjo-14629_alive_remember-the-plants-trees-animal-life-wh_790083.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/joy-harjo-14629_alive_remember-the-plants-trees-animal-life-wh_790083.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/joy-harjo-14629_alive_remember-the-plants-trees-animal-life-wh_790083.png) > “Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their families, their histories too. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems.” [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All living beings have histories and families; listening to them reveals poetic wisdom. **In simple terms:** Nature has stories and families; listen to them. Key Takeaway Treat nature as a living poem. Themes environment interconnectedness storytelling respect spirituality Mood reverent inspirational Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - Walking in forests - gardening - wildlife observation - mindful listening Key Concepts Ecology indigenous wisdom empathy Questions to Reflect On - What stories do you hear when you listen to a tree? - How can we honor the families of non‑human life? A Different Perspective Some may view nature as merely resources, not sentient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-life/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Plant a tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant-a-tree/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [The knowledge of the soul admittedly contributes greatly to the advance of truth in general, and, above all, to our understanding of Nature, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-knowledge-of-the-soul-admittedly-contributes-greatly-to-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Firsyt of all, it must be realized that only God truly knows about Himself ( ya- rif aqq ma- rifatih) and fully comprehends the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/firsyt-of-all-it-must-be-realized-that-only-god-truly-knows-about/) [al-Ghazâlî](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [“Darwinism met with such overwhelming success because it provided, on the basis of inheritance, the ideological weapons for race and well as class rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/darwinism-met-with-such-overwhelming-success-because-it-provided-on/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“There is nothing illogical in the desire of the "have-nots" to appropriate the wealth of the "haves"; in fact, it is part and parcel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-f-c-fuller-2/there-is-nothing-illogical-in-the-desire-of-the-have-nots-to/) J.F.C. Fuller > [“Resurrection. In the crude form in which it is preached to console the weak, it is alien to me. I have always understood Christ's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/resurrection-in-the-crude-form-in-which-it-is-preached-to-console-the/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“We heard of this woman who was out of control. We heard that she was led by her feelings. That her emotions were violent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/we-heard-of-this-woman-who-was-out-of-control-we-heard-that-she-was/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [“If you think of our planet as a living, breathing organism, the forests are the lungs. They create a perfect balance to our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-bohanec/if-you-think-of-our-planet-as-a-living-breathing-organism-the-forests/) [Hope Bohanec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-bohanec/) > [A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-man-can-live-and-be-healthy-without-killing-animals-for-food/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [How anyone can profess to find animal life interesting and yet take delight in reducing the wonder of any animal to a bloody mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/how-anyone-can-profess-to-find-animal-life-interesting-and-yet-take/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [ In ten years \[i.e., 1980\] all important animal life in the sea will be extinct. Large areas of coastline will have to be evacuated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/in-ten-years-i-e-1980-all-important-animal-life-in-the-sea-will-be/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be a less folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/liberty-is-to-faction-what-air-is-to-fire-an-aliment-without-which-it/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“Boyishness—by which I mean animal life in its fullest measure, good nature and honest impulses, hatred of injustice and meanness, and thoughtlessness enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/boyishness-by-which-i-mean-animal-life-in-its-fullest-measure-good/) [Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/) > [I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiaan-barnard/i-had-bought-two-male-chimps-from-a-primate-colony-in-holland-they/) [Christiaan Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiaan-barnard/) > [The difference between tragedy and comedy is the difference between experience and intuition. In the experience we strive against every condition of our animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/the-difference-between-tragedy-and-comedy-is-the-difference-between/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [A spiritual man should be a normal man, a sound man. God Himself is normal; He is not insane. In order to reach God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/a-spiritual-man-should-be-a-normal-man-a-sound-man-god-himself-is/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) ## More by Joy Harjo > [If we cry more tears we will ruin the land with salt; instead let's praise that which would distract us with despair. Make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/if-we-cry-more-tears-we-will-ruin-the-land-with-salt-instead-let-s/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“This morning when I looked out the roof window before dawn and a few stars were still caught in the fragile weft of ebony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/this-morning-when-i-looked-out-the-roof-window-before-dawn-and-a-few/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“The songs of the guardians of silence are the most powerful—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/the-songs-of-the-guardians-of-silence-are-the-most-powerful/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“I know I walk in and out of several worlds each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/i-know-i-walk-in-and-out-of-several-worlds-each-day/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [In Isleta the rainbow was a crack in the universe. We saw the barest of all life that is possible. Bright horses rolled over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/in-isleta-the-rainbow-was-a-crack-in-the-universe-we-saw-the-barest/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [A story matrix connects all of us. There are rules, processes, and circles of responsibility in this world. And the story begins exactly where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/a-story-matrix-connects-all-of-us-there-are-rules-processes-and/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you. Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/be-respectful-of-the-small-insects-birds-and-animal-people-who/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [I can hear the sizzle of newborn stars, and know anything of meaning, of the fierce magic emerging here. I am witness to flexible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/i-can-hear-the-sizzle-of-newborn-stars-and-know-anything-of-meaning/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“It's possible to understand the world from studying a leaf. You can comprehend the laws of aerodynamics, mathematics, poetry and biology through the complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/it-s-possible-to-understand-the-world-from-studying-a-leaf-you-can/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [There is no separation. We are all from the same place. As long as there is respect and acknowledgement of connections, things continue working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/there-is-no-separation-we-are-all-from-the-same-place-as-long-as/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“I release you, my beautiful and terrible fear. I release you. You were my beloved and hate twin, but now, I don't know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/i-release-you-my-beautiful-and-terrible-fear-i-release-you-you-were/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/perhaps-the-world-will-end-at-the-kitchen-table-while-we-are-laughing/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [At least I've had to come to that in my life, to realize that this stuff called failure, this stuff, this debris of historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/at-least-i-ve-had-to-come-to-that-in-my-life-to-realize-that-this/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [I listen to the gunfire we cannot hear, and begin this journey with the light of knowing the root of my own furious love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/i-listen-to-the-gunfire-we-cannot-hear-and-begin-this-journey-with/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [It is memory that provides the heart with impetus, fuels the brain, and propels the corn plant from seed to fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/it-is-memory-that-provides-the-heart-with-impetus-fuels-the-brain-and/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) [Explore all 46 Joy Harjo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their families, their histories too. Talk to them, listen to them. 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