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Lucille Clifton

Lucille Clifton

Lucille Clifton

Born: 27 June 1936 • Died: 13 February 2010

Lucille Clifton was born in Depew, New York, on June 27, 1936. Her first book of poems, Good Times (Random House, 1969), was rated one of the best books of the year by the New York Times. Clifton’s honors include an Emmy Award from the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a Lannan Literary Award, two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Shelley Memorial Award, the YM-YWHA Poetry Center Discovery Award, and the 2007 Ruth Lilly Prize. Lucille Clifton died on February 13, 2010. (Source)

Poems by Lucille Clifton

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Breaklight by Lucille Clifton

October 20, 2025
“light keeps on breaking. / i keep knowing / the language of other nations.” — Lucille Clifton
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won’t you celebrate with me by Lucille Clifton

October 1, 2025
“come celebrate / with me that everyday / something has tried to kill me / and has failed.” — Lucille Clifton
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Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton

September 27, 2025
“may you / open your eyes to water / water waving forever / and may you in your innocence / sail through this to that” — Lucille Clifton
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What the Mirror Said by Lucille Clifton

September 2, 2025
"somebody need a map / to understand you. / somebody need directions / to move around you." — Lucille Clifton
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i am running into a new year by Lucille Clifton

January 1, 2018
"it will be hard to let go / of what i said to myself / about myself" — Lucille Clifton
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Won’t You Celebrate With Me by Lucille Clifton

November 7, 2012
"come celebrate / with me that everyday / something has tried to kill me / and has failed." — Lucille Clifton
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moonchild by Lucille Clifton

April 19, 2008
"the moon understands dark places. / the moon has secrets of her own." — Lucille Clifton
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To My Last Period by Lucille Clifton

January 1, 2006
"well, girl, goodbye, / after thirty-eight years." — Lucille Clifton
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Homage to My Hips by Lucille Clifton

September 20, 2005
"these hips have never been enslaved, / they go where they want to go / they do what they want to do." — Lucille Clifton