Tayari's Blog: Here Rests, by Lucille Clifton
Posted by TayariJones on March 21, 2007 10:45 AM
Filed under
Bookshelf
I often bring poetry into my fiction classes. I often use this one by Lucille Clifton. (How an she tell a full story in so few--very beautiful--words?)
here rests
my sister Josephine
born in '29
and dead these 15 years
who carried a book on every stroll.
when daddy was dying
she left the streets
and moved him back home
to tend him.
her pimp came too
her Diamond Dick
and they would take turns
reading
a bible aloud through the house.
when you poem this
and you will, she would say
remember the Book of Job.
happy birthday and hope
to you Jospehine
one of the easts
most wanted.
may heaven be filled
with literate men
may they bed you
with respect.
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There are 3 comments on "Here Rests, by Lucille Clifton". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Angela Threatt ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Lucille Clifton is awesome! I need to get Mercy. Wow. My favorite by her was always "Miss Rosie." But now...
March 21, 2007 12:34 PM
Comment #2, by Teri Elam-Blanchard
i love lucille clifton!!! love her!
March 22, 2007 09:33 PM
Comment #3, by Tara Betts
YAY! Ms. Clifton is a master of the concluding line. She is such a storyteller too. Usually, if I page through her book GOOD WOMAN, and there's something that reminds me of her voice.
March 26, 2007 02:20 AM