March is Women's History Month and here, today, I celebrate by acknowledging a special woman, Lucille Clifton (1936-2010). From 1979–1985 Clifton served as Poet Laureate of Maryland. Her poetry celebrates both her African-American heritage and her womanhood. Here is "album," a poem in Clifton's spare and un-capitalized style -- and containing a few numbers to help us keep track of the times that are changing.
album by Lucille Clifton
for lucille chan hall
1 it is 1939
our mothers are turning our hair
around rags.
our mothers
have filled our shirley temple cups.
we drink it all.
2 1939 again.
our shirley temple curls.
shirley yellow.
shirley black.
our colors are fading.
3 1958 and 9.
we have dropped daughters
afrikan and chinese.
we think
they will be beautiful.
we think
they will become themselves.
4 it is 1985.
she is.
she is.
they are.
This poem is found on my shelf in Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000 (BOA Editions, 2000). Here is a link to Clifton reading another fine poem (though without any mathematical connection) "won't you celebrate with me?"
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