Lucille Clifton
Lucille Clifton
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Full name: Lucille Clifton
Common aliases: Lucille Clifton Potter
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on June 27, 1936
Died on February 13, 2010
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession(s): Poet, Writer, Essayist
Early Life and Background
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Lucille Clifton was born in Depauw, Indiana, to Fred and Thelma Grimes. Her family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, when she was five years old. Growing up in a neighborhood plagued by poverty and racism, Clifton's experiences would later shape her writing. She attended Howard University, where she began writing poetry and developing her voice.
Major Accomplishments
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Clifton's first collection of poetry, "The Poet Believes," was published in 1969. However, it wasn't until the publication of her third book, "Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969-1980" (1987), that she gained widespread recognition for her work. Throughout her career, Clifton wrote over 20 collections of poetry, earning numerous awards and honors.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some notable works include:
"Homage to My Parents" (1970) - a collection of poems about her parents' relationship
"Mercies" (1988) - a collection that explores themes of identity, family, and social justice
"Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000" (2000) - a comprehensive selection of her work up to that pointImpact and Legacy
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Lucille Clifton's poetry is known for its lyricism, accessibility, and unflinching examination of American society. Her writing often explores themes of racism, sexism, and identity. Throughout her career, she was recognized with numerous awards, including the National Book Award (2000) and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Lucille Clifton's impact on American literature is undeniable. Her poetry continues to be widely studied and quoted due to its:
Accessible yet profound language: Clifton's use of everyday language makes her poetry relatable, while still tackling complex themes.
Unflinching examination of social issues: Her writing sheds light on the struggles faced by marginalized communities, contributing to ongoing conversations about justice and equality.
Influence on future generations: Clifton's work has inspired a new wave of poets, including winners of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize.
Clifton's legacy extends beyond her own work. She remains an important figure in American literature, offering readers powerful insights into the human experience. As a testament to her enduring impact, her poetry continues to be widely read and quoted today.
Quotes by Lucille Clifton
Lucille Clifton's insights on:
If someone gives you permission, they can take it away. I give myself permission.
Children when they ask you why your mama so funny say she is a poet she don’t have no sense.
My Mama Moved Among the Days My Mama moved among the days like a dreamwalker in a field; seemed like what she touched was here seemed like what touched her couldn’t hold, she got us almost through the high grass then seemed like she turned around and ran right back in right back on in.
I think that were beginning to remember that the first poets didn’t come out of a classroom, that poetry began when somebody walked off of a savanna or out of a cave and looked up at the sky with wonder and said, “Ahhh.” That was the first poem.
People wish to be poets more than they wish to write poetry, and that’s a mistake. One should wish to celebrate more than one wishes to be celebrated.
All people, even one’s own children, come with baggage. When they’re little, you have to help them carry it. But when they grow up, you have to do that difficult thing of setting their baggage down and taking up your own again.
Things don’t fall apart. Things hold. Lines connect in thin ways that last and last and lives become generations made out of pictures and words just kept.