R.I.P. Lucille Clifton
Award-winning poet Lucille Clifton has died at the age of 73. I was in graduate school working, writing and performing with the June Jordan Poetry for the People program when I fell in love with Clifton’s poetry. Here, Clifton reads her poem, “Homage To My Hips,” one of my favorites.
Sorry to hear about her passing. I love the poem you posted — I remember reading it in college and thinking I wanted it to be my mantra.
This Clifton poem is my personal favorite:
i beg my bones to be good but
they keep clicking music and
i spin in the center of myself
a foolish frightful woman
moving my skin against the wind and
tap dancing for my life.
Thanks for sharing Amber. Here’s another one that I love:
won’t you celebrate with me
BY LUCILLE CLIFTON
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.