LoginMay 2022 Notable Author: Lucille Clifton
“Only by accepting individual responsibility can people live a better life.” – Lucille Clifton
Lucille Clifton (June 27, 1936 – February 13, 2010) was an American poet, writer, and educator from Buffalo, New York who became Poet Laureate of Maryland (1979-1985) and was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Her ancestors were slaves, she attended Howard University for a time, and was discovered by Langston Hughes after a friend shared her poems with him. Hughes published Clifton's poetry in his highly influential anthology, The Poetry of the Negro (1970).
Clifton’s work emphasized endurance and strength through adversity, focusing particularly on African-American experiences and family life. For example, Clifton’s poems in Good Times, were inspired by Clifton’s family of six young children, and focus on African-American urban life. She wrote her second book Good News about the Earth: New Poems, in the late 1960s to 70s and its poems reflect the political and social turmoil of the times. Readers note that Clifton writes in a spare, unadorned style; no punctuation and no capitalization.
Clifton was also an excellent children’s book author primarily writing books to help African-American children understand their world and African-American heritage. Her most famous character is Everett Anderson, an African-American boy living in a big city. Clifton wrote eight Everett Anderson books, including Everett Anderson’s Goodbye, which won the Coretta Scott King Award.
She married Fred James Clifton in 1958 and they raised six children. Clifton died February 13, 2010, in Baltimore.
Genre: POETRY
Poetry is a form of literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Sample Reading List: Pulitzer Finalist Poetry - Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir, Next: New Poem; Children’s Books - Three Wishes, The Boy Who Didn't Believe In Spring; The Everett Anderson series
Writer's Prompt - Fun With Words
Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing poetry like Lucille Clifton. With just 100 words, create a poem that emphasizes strength occurring as the result of adversity.
Title your work and submit to: https://marylandwriters.org/Notable_Maryland_Authors by the 22nd of the month to receive an MWA Fun With Words submission certificate. Selected responses will be published with next month’s article as well as posted on the MWA website.
Submit Your FUN WITH WORDS Prompt
The MWA is a 33-year-old state-wide association (501c3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland writers, poets, playwrights, and authors. Go to: www.MarylandWriters.org for more info.
N. Mac Garner
May. 20, 2022Learning to Thrive by N. Mac Garner - Tilghman Island densely purple fog grays reasoning and options judgment clouded out red oozing ribbon gushing gaping painful wound bad decision made throbbing dense pain teaching moment to avoid ever never this pivot find new way path ahead will be chosen better next time
Ellen Coffey
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Doris Brady
May. 20, 2022SIX STEPS by Doris Brady - Cumberland It was only six steps from her couch to the stairs. She counted them every day, as plasma seeped from her will. She reached for her cane; it had come to that. It steadied her as she walked,as the poison diminished her strength. She pulled herself up, straightened her spine. Chemo had knocked her down, but she vowed six steps would not.
Katie Brewster
May. 20, 2022Our Dear Mama by Katie Brewster - Pomfret She experienced hardship and heartache, Yet nevertheless rejoiced and persevered. She endured disability and pain, Yet pressed on and overcame. She knew much bitterness, but remained full of sweetness. She set us an example, of acceptance and faith. Walking a path of fortitude and grace.
Elizabeth Reeder
May. 20, 2022From Elizabeth Reeder's book "From The Heart" The darkness of night enfolds like a comforting blanket. And so, to sleep with peaceful dreams. Then, softly and gently come the precious memories. Pictures saved in the deep recesses of our subconscious. To open quietly and safely these welcome guests As they speak to our resting soul.
Joni Youse
May. 20, 2022sticks and stones by Joni Youse - Thurmont you called me fat with a crooked smile on your face. I imagine you spent hours sharpening your tongue into the blade used to slice us apart, removing my breast from your bones. pushing me to take the blame, the full crushing blow of failure. I gained weight when I gave birth to your children, then found your anger and your mouth spewing manure which seeded my roots, strengthened my trunk and fed my crown. when you left that weight fluttered away like a flock of swallows.
Jon Ketzner
May. 20, 2022Haiku, Haiku Very Much by Jon Ketzner - Cumberland Shocked Establishment/ Hated his rebel ways and/ Carnal vibrations Steve Allen mocked him/ Ed Sullivan censored his/ Pelvic gyrations He got THE letter/ From the Selective Service/ He’d been selected His fine pompadour/ On the floor, his hot career/ Most surely wreck-ed Served his two year stint/ Mustered out, came on home, slapped/ Back on his leather Up snarled his sneer/ My dear, Private Presley was/ Bigger than ever