Joy Harjo “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles”

                Some older traditions held that when our souls departed this world, they travel to a star. Just as one takes a train from point a to point b, our souls take death from earth to a star. I believe that is what this poem is saying, however it is odd that the path to one of those stars, or to the milky way leads through Los Angeles. Harjo mentions that it is a city named after the angels, but is probably more well known as a city of sin. I think that Harjo is not being specific to Los Angeles however. She is being analogous to all cities where we are crowded in with other people. I think that she is trying to communicate some kind of truth behind the reality of looking for good in a place where there is so much bad. I have to ask myself why she uses the Crow to say “wait, wait and see” (line 25) Is it because it is a joke, or a trick rather to try to find something good. I believe this poem could also communicate some sort of secular version of one having must passed a life of sin in order to reach the afterlife. Maybe if I wait and see, then I will find out.