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The Collected Poems Of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010 (2012)

by Lucille Clifton(Favorite Author)

4.22 of 5 Votes: 6

ISBN

1934414905 (ISBN13: 9781934414903)

languge

English

genre

Poetry

publisher

BOA Editions Ltd.

review 1: I knew what a powerhouse Clifton is -- and this book confirms it, with an introduction by Toni Morrison and afterword by Kevin Young. There is a final selection of poems that are not published anywhere else. It is wonderful to have everything in one volume. The joy of a book like this, is to go back and re-read and let favorites sink deep under your skin. As Merwin says, "it is not possible for me to speak about Lucille Clifton without feeling love for her." Her use of "ordinary words we go on using every day" is often extraordinary, bringing to light new ways of understanding. Yes, "Lucille is another word for light, which is the soul of 'enlightenment'. And she knew it." (Morrison's concluding sentence.)
review 2: What a handsome collection of poetry! ... moreBOA editions went all out with this well-made and superbly edited (Kevin Young) volume. The introduction by Toni Morrison sets the stage for a new reading and criticism of Clifton's work: less "big mama/big sister of racial reassurance and self-empowerment" and more "references to her intellect, imagination, scholarship, or her risk taking manipulation of language."Her religious poems are hair-raising. Lucifer converses with God: "let us rest here a time/like two old brothers/ who watched it happen and wondered/ what it meant." Her John says: "Someone coming in blackness/ like a star/ and the world be a great bush/ on his head/ and his eyes be fire/in the city/ and his mouth be true as time." Moses is "an old man/ leaving slavery/ home is burning in me/ like a bush/ God got his eye on."There are dozens are masterpieces in this book, and it's all interesting.Morrison: "Can any one of us not shiver with the tenderness in "miss rosie"?miss rosiewhen I watch youwrapped up like garbagesitting, surrounded by the smellof too old potato peelsorwhen I watch youin your old man's shoeswith the little toe cut outsitting, waiting for your mindlike next week's groceryI saywhen I watch youyou wet brown bag of a womanwho used to be the best looking gal in georgiaused to be called the Georgia RoseI stand upthrough your destructionI stand up less

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