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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Confession Tuesday: Celebrating Lucille Clifton

It's Confession Tuesday. There are times when what I need to address involves others but they didn't sign on for Confession Tuesday, I did. And then there is Lucille Clifton's passing. Often when I'm really hurting, I reach for poetry. Today is one of those days. Ms. Clifton's words match the burden I'm feeling.

Rest in peace.



gloria mundi

so knowing,
what is known?
that we carry our baggage
in our cupped hands
when we burst through the waters of our mother.
that some are born
and some are brought
to the glory of this world.
that it is more difficult
than faith
to serve only one calling
one commitment
one devotion
in one life.

from The Book of Light. Copper Canyon Press. 1993

5 comments:

Jessie Carty said...

i love lucille's work, yet everyone is posting poems that i was not as familiar with. absolutely love that you shared this piece!

susan said...

Glad to hear you like it. I have another one posted at work but I couldn't remember the collection.

Ali said...

Beautiful poem. Hope things are looking up for you today, Susan.

January said...

I think you are the amazing one.

* said...

I love Lucille. I wrote a poem honoring her (shortly after her passing).

She will be missed.