Tag Archives: Lucille Clifton

The Lesson of the Falling Leaves

By Robin Bates | Published: October 16, 2021

Clifton has written simple but powerful poems about letting go, including this autumnal poem.

By Robin Bates | Published: September 9, 2021

On September 11, 2001 and for six days after, Lucille Clifton wrote a series of poems reflecting on the meaning of the attack.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged 9-11, 9-11 poems | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: August 9, 2021

Two black authors (Clifton, McQueen) report similar experiences when visiting southern plantations: the erasure of slave history.

By Robin Bates | Published: July 14, 2021

In the current debates over teaching race history, Lucille Clifton has important things to say.

By Robin Bates | Published: April 22, 2021

Some of the first-hand witnesses at the Derek Chauvin trial felt guilty for not having done more. Lucille Clifton has a poem to reassure them.

By Robin Bates | Published: March 22, 2021

In “When I Was Growing Up,” Nellie Wong speaks to how American whites have long exoticized Asian-Americans.

By Robin Bates | Published: August 7, 2020

David Whyte and Lucille Clifton both have poems about Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee. For both it means stepping into uncharted paths.

By Robin Bates | Published: July 18, 2020

Denise Levertov draws on the Jacob’s dream about a stairway to heaven to capture poetry’s transcendent qualities.

By Robin Bates | Published: June 17, 2020

This previously unpublished Lucille Clifton is perfect for our tumultuous time.