Poet Lucille Clifton's sly humor

Lucille Clifton, the widely anthologized poet who died Feb. 13 at age 73, was descended from slaves and wrote many poems that addressed indignities and injustices in African Americans' lives. But the mother of six also was noted for her humor, which she directed at subjects not usually considered inspirational, including hot flashes and menstruation.

Her earthy wit powers her "wishes for sons":

i wish them cramps.

i wish them a strange town

and the last tampon.

i wish them no 7-11.

i wish them one week early

and wearing a white skirt.

i wish them one week late.

later i wish them hot flashes

and clots like you

wouldn't believe. let the

flashes come when they

meet someone special.

let the clots come

when they want to.

let them think they have accepted

arrogance in the universe,

then bring them to gynecologists

not unlike themselves.

Read the news obituary here and more of Clifton's work here.

-- Elaine Woo

Photo: Lucille Clifton in 2000. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Danielle - Long Beach]

I discovered Lucille Clifton's work in middle school and have been a fan ever since. I've been writing poetry since I was about 8 and I cried when I found out she died. She was truly one of my role models. She knew how to capture normal life experiences in a unbelievable way. In the African American community her work is as easily understood today as it was decades ago. Her poem Cutting Greens will forever remind me of my Grandmother preparing greens in her kitchen.

[fulana]

Elaine Woo's obituary was so well done & written , subtle and complete. She is a treasure and should be paid to write about anything she wants.