Sadly, Lucille Clifton passed away last Saturday, February 13, 2010.
Her reading voice was soft and mellifluous, and it revealed the benevolence that structured much of her life's poetic work. It is hard to understate the impact that she has had on poetry during her lifetime. For my own poetry, discovering her work was like walking down the street and stumbling upon Chartres Cathedral. When I read her poems, "Homage to My Hips" and "Wishes for Sons" my understanding of poetry, and the ways that feminists could write poetry, changed forever. For a teenage girl, these poems seemed shocking and brave. They still do.
Lucille Clifton's presence was the highlight of the 2009 AWP Conference event in honor of Geraldine Brooks. She spoke with brash honesty; she radiated humor and generosity.
Thank God she was a prolific writer: her books provide a wealth of work which will instruct people for years to come.
To watch an animated video of one of her poems, click here: "mulbrerry fields."
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