Jake Skeets

In a slight change to the normal format, host Pádraig Ó Tuama speaks with the poet Jake Skeets who reads his poem “Daybreak,” a poem combining Diné language with English, a poem rich with observation: of land, of growth, of memory, of place. Land is not just a tool to use for food, nor is it a blank space for human projection. In this poem, Jake Skeets reflects on an ethical engagement with land: an engagement that sees land as itself, not just for its uses.Jake Skeets is the author of Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers, winner of the National Poetry Series. He is the recipient of a 92Y Discovery Prize, a Mellon Projecting All Voices Fellowship, an American Book Award, and a Whiting Award. He is from the Navajo Nation and teaches at Diné College.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

Jake Skeets, a poet and author, discusses the power of Diné language and its cultural resonance. Joined by Rex Lee Jim, who shares his poem "Language," they explore how voice breathes life into identity. Laura Tohe, the Navajo Nation Poet Laureate, adds depth with her rhythmic poems highlighting the sacredness of language. Together, they reflect on the impact of settler colonialism, the role of poetry in connection, and the intricate dance between language and the environment. Skeets wraps up with his own poem on the act of translation.