18 pages • 36-minute read
This Morning I Pray for My Enemies
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Symbols & Motifs
The Sun
The sun is mentioned twice in “This Morning I Pray for My Enemies” and serves as a key physical symbol for the philosophical point made in the poem. In the first reference, the sun is what the speaker turns towards before continuing to walk. This physical “turn” (Line 3) creates a narrative shift where the speaker begins thinking about their own heart and mind rather than their enemies. The sun, in this sense, could represent a light of introspection—a place one aims to go.
In the fifth line, this concept is enhanced through the metaphorical use of the sun. Harjo describes the heart as “the smaller cousin of the sun” (Line 5). By repeating the image of the sun, Harjo reinforces the idea that the speaker’s compass is sun-related, whether the heart or the sun itself. In a poem with few physical images, the sun shines, literally and figuratively, as a beacon for both speaker and reader in pursuing greater understanding.
The Heart and The Mind
In the middle of the poem, Harjo moves from the dominating question of enemies to explore the relationship between a person’s heart and mind. These two parts of the body are imagined as key representative aspects of the human experience. This is a widely used metaphorical representation and Harjo likely used this to her advantage in reaching a broad audience with this poem.
On one hand, the heart is described in positive and powerful terms; it “knows everything” (Line 6). On the other hand, the mind is “furious” (Line 4) and should be governed by the heart’s knowledge and guidance. The binary created by Harjo’s use of heart and mind as parts of the speaker also helps to support the closing lines of the poem as the speaker realizes that perhaps the (supposed) binary of enemy and friend may eventually be dissolved.
Movement
For a poem that primarily rests on philosophical reflection, “This Morning” contains a few important moments where physical movement helps push forward the thinking of the speaker. As the title implies, the speaker begins the poem in prayer, which is normally thought to be a solitary, silent action. Yet after questioning who their enemies are, the speaker “keep[s] walking” (Line 3) towards the sun. This journeying motion propels the story of the poem forward as the speaker moves towards a different understanding. Later in the poem, as the speaker moves towards a resolution, the space between the heart and mind is described as a “door” (Line 8). The speaker’s goal of figuring out how to engage with their enemies is only made possible by allowing their heart to open the door to the mind. In these moments of movement, Harjo transitions the speaker between different understandings and towards a new way of thinking.
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