Perhaps the World Ends Here

The poem is told through the first-person plural perspective, defined by the pronoun “we.” Through this perspective, the speaker speaks for all of humanity, which establishes a unique and intimate connection between the reader, the speaker, and the world. Both slightly apocalyptic and narrative, the poem centers a symbolic table and explores how centuries of humans have lived—by sharing and gathering at the table, a place where life events occur, such as births, wars, and deaths. The poem is as much a warning as it is a call to action, calling all of humanity to collectively take a seat at the table and join in thanks for the ability to share and experience life.

Through the extended metaphor of the table, the poem moves forward through the stages of life (“The world begins” [Line 1]; “babies teethe at the corners” [Line 3]; “we make men at it, we make women” [Line 4], etc.). The poem opens with the statement: “The world begins at a kitchen table” (Line 1). What follows is an expansion of this statement—the speaker explores the symbol of the table and notes achievements and milestones that dictate a life (“children are given instructions on what it means to be human” [Line 3]; “we gossip, recall enemies and ghosts of lovers” [Line 5]). There are lessons learned at this table, love is experienced, children are taught, and eventually war occurs and terror reigns (“It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror” [Line 8]).

By exploring moments that make up a life—and, to a larger extent, a world—the poem explores themes of togetherness and unity, sharing and gathering, and the apocalypse, or facing the world’s end. Harjo balances the poem with moments of celebration (“We have given birth on this table” [Line 9]) and moments of frustration and failure (“we put ourselves back together once again at the table” [Line 6]). Whatever the event, it occurs at the table, which symbolizes the place of gathering and sharing burdens. In using the table as an extended metaphor, Harjo comments on the importance of the shared life (whether positive or negative). Again and again, the poem illustrates moments of the “we” supporting, helping, and sharing in the lived experience together (“At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks” [Line 10]).

The poem concludes with a line that mirrors the opening line: “Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table” (Line 11). The word “Perhaps” (Line 11) indicates that this is an unknown; the speaker only knows what they themselves have witnessed—the end of the world has not come yet. However, when it does come, the speaker prophesies that, like all other events in life, the world will end with everyone at the table “laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite” (Line 11). “Perhaps the World Ends Here” is, in the end, a poem about gratitude, sharing, and joy. While it has apocalyptic undertones, Harjo focuses on connection and love rather than competition and division. The kitchen table symbolizes togetherness and sharing. To Harjo, if the world should end, the table is where humanity will be found. The poem is largely a poem of hope, encouraging all to savor life.