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savaging's review against another edition
5.0
This is maybe the most powerful compilation of poetry I have ever read.
Lucille Clifton's first book of poems was published in 1965 when her children were ages 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Her final poems mourn the dead of Hurricane Katrina. Throughout that span her words are sharp, loving, clear. These are words for the struggle against racism and war and ecocide, and also all the tender and brutal moments of being a specific body. Unforgiving and full of grace and oh good lord Lucille.
Get this book. Read this book.
Lucille Clifton's first book of poems was published in 1965 when her children were ages 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Her final poems mourn the dead of Hurricane Katrina. Throughout that span her words are sharp, loving, clear. These are words for the struggle against racism and war and ecocide, and also all the tender and brutal moments of being a specific body. Unforgiving and full of grace and oh good lord Lucille.
Get this book. Read this book.
won’t you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
sweetbriar15's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
lizaroo71's review against another edition
5.0
Lucille Clifton is a genius of a poet. She has poems that range from simple observations to heavy declarations on life in America.
My personal favorite is about dealing with breast cancer:
in the mirror
an only breast
leans against her chest wall
mourning she is suspended
in a sob between t and e and a and r
and the gash ghost of her sister
t and e and a and r
it is pronounced like crying
it is pronounced like
being torn away
it is pronounced like trying to re
member the shape of an unsafe life
My personal favorite is about dealing with breast cancer:
in the mirror
an only breast
leans against her chest wall
mourning she is suspended
in a sob between t and e and a and r
and the gash ghost of her sister
t and e and a and r
it is pronounced like crying
it is pronounced like
being torn away
it is pronounced like trying to re
member the shape of an unsafe life
robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
I'll never feel comfortable gauging the quality of poetry when I know my reading comprehension of same is lacking. There were obviously strong themes of Black experience, Black trauma, talking about enslavement, genocide, racism. There were aspects of Clifton's life, being a Black woman, surviving cancer, and what I think were references to child loss and abuse. High on religious references, which are not my thing.
It will no doubt come across as shallow given the majority of the subject matter, but my favourite poem was Light. Thesaurus entry as poem scratches my brain just right.
It will no doubt come across as shallow given the majority of the subject matter, but my favourite poem was Light. Thesaurus entry as poem scratches my brain just right.