RIP Lucille Clifton

by Robert Wilkinson

One of my favorite poets of all time died on February 13. Ms. Lucille Clifton wrote some of the most powerful poetry I've ever read, and opened my eyes to a way of viewing life as few others have. Today I'll offer you a couple of her creations.

Poet, writer, educator, and unabashed woman of power, she has been a force majure for years. Winner of the National Book Award for Poetry and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for extraordinary lifetime accomplishment, she was also Poet Laureate of the state of Maryland from 1979 to 1985.

Here are two of her poems, both a celebration of freedom and power! The first one changed my life and certainly provoked some "manly men" back in the early 1990s when I did what I could to launch the so-called "mens' movement." When I recited this from memory around the fires, the looks on their faces was something to behold!

RIP Ms. Clifton. You were one of the best, a magnificent Fire Rat! Let's begin with

“the light that came to lucille clifton”

the light that came to lucille clifton

came in a shift of knowing

when even her fondest sureties

faded away. it was the summer

she understood that she had not understood

and was not mistress even

of her own off eye, then

the man escaped throwing away his tie and

the children grew legs and started walking and

she could see the peril of an

unexamined life.

she closed her eyes, afraid to look for her

authenticity

but the light insists on itself in the world;

a voice from the nondead past started talking,

she closed her ears and it spelled out in her hand

“you might as well answer the door, my child,

the truth is furiously knocking.”

“homage to my hips”

these hips are big hips

they need space to

move around in.

they don't fit into little

petty places. these hips

are free hips.

they don't like to be held back.

these hips have never been enslaved,

they go where they want to go

they do what they want to do.

these hips are mighty hips.

these hips are magic hips.

i have known them

to put a spell on a man and

spin him like a top!

You can find a few more poems at Better Living Through Beowulf - How great literature can change your life, as well as a bit more about this remarkable woman of power. Look for tributes in the near future!

Copyright © 2010 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[cathy cataldo]

Beautiful. loved the first poem, second was really funny.thanks, good laugh!!

[Wendy]

Robert she is incredible!! Her poems brought tears of deep understanding to my eyes. Powerful and simple yet so much depth and meaning!!
Happy trails lovely lady!!

And thanks once again Robert : D

[WarriorLady]

Definitely love that second poem. Not because my hips are big-- they're *there* and neato-- but because I'm SO sick of super-tight jeans. Stick-figure or not, tight jeans just aren't comfy! And don't even get me started on the 90% of jeans that contain stretch, these days. UGH.

See you on the other side, brilliant Lucille.

[Sue Moon]

Really spoke to my heart.

[Robert]

Hi all - I figured if you didn't know of her, it would provide you all fantastic grist for your artistic hearts. And if you did know of her, you'd want to know of the passing of a truly Great Soul.

[amanda]

I just started reading Lucille Clifton recently and i am happy i discovered her poems. they are beautiful. Homage to my hips is very uplifting to women struggling with there body image. thank you Lucille god bless