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mwaskom's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
First book of 2023! I really adored some of the poems in the middle section, but the third section that leaned more heavily on biblical stories was not for me.
vulturetime's review
3.0
There are definitely some poems in here that I do genuinely enjoy, but most of them I just find okay. Some of them, especially the ones regarding religion, required prior knowledge that I personally did not have, and I imagine knowing more about Clifton's life and situation would also add more depth to many of these poems. My favorite poems were: sam, c. c. rider, it was a dream, dear jesse helms, cigarettes, nothing about the moment, cain.
raulbime's review against another edition
5.0
Divided into three parts, with the first part reflection being poems about childhood and family and survival, ending with that brilliant and famous poem:
won’t you celebrate with me
what i shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both non-white and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay.
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
The second part is entitled lightning bolt , was my favourite part, more outward-looking than the first part yet still self-questioning, self-assessing, with more uncertainty and gloomier than the first part of the collection. And excellent poems such as this one:
each morning i pull myself
out of despair
from nights of coals and a tongue
blistered with smiling
the step past the mother bed
is a high step
the walk through the widow’s door
is a long walk
and who are these voices calling
from every mirrored thing
say it coward say it
Then the last part is splendor , mythological and spiritual and very fascinating. I loved this book, a fantastic opening to this new year.
won’t you celebrate with me
what i shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both non-white and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay.
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
The second part is entitled lightning bolt , was my favourite part, more outward-looking than the first part yet still self-questioning, self-assessing, with more uncertainty and gloomier than the first part of the collection. And excellent poems such as this one:
each morning i pull myself
out of despair
from nights of coals and a tongue
blistered with smiling
the step past the mother bed
is a high step
the walk through the widow’s door
is a long walk
and who are these voices calling
from every mirrored thing
say it coward say it
Then the last part is splendor , mythological and spiritual and very fascinating. I loved this book, a fantastic opening to this new year.
oasisity's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
1.0
I can see why this was written, but it veers toward disrespect in a sense. I don’t agree with a lot of the views of spirituality written which is what I decided to base my rating on.
itsjunghan's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I’d been searching for Lucille Clifton’s original publication of my favorite poem “won’t you celebrate with me” and was happy to find it at a rare bookseller in Washington; it was one of the few she didn’t publish with Rochester-based indie press BOA Editions. Like me, Lucille Clifton is a daughter of Western New York, even though our lives eventually took us elsewhere. The Book of Light has big range, exploring Black liberation and white supremacist politics, sexual abuse and family violence, and transformation and growth. Other favorites include “the earth is a living thing”, “dear jesse helms,”, “fury”, and a duo commemorating the MOVE headquarters bombing, “move” and “samson predicts from gaza the philadelphia fire”. Highly recommended for everyone who loves the powerful simplicity of language and its ability to provoke, complicate, and heal.
poetryamano's review against another edition
4.0
Lucille Clifton comes close to being one of our mystics. Her way with the line shows how words can be magnets. A book of hers is always a treat.
birdbeakbeast's review against another edition
4.0
"they will order you
to give it up if you do
you will bring the temple down
if you do not they wil"
&&
"If you live in a mind
that would destroy itself
to comfort itself
if you would stand fire
rather than difference
do not hesitate
move
away"
to give it up if you do
you will bring the temple down
if you do not they wil"
&&
"If you live in a mind
that would destroy itself
to comfort itself
if you would stand fire
rather than difference
do not hesitate
move
away"
msalameh's review against another edition
5.0
"i am used to the heft of it
sitting against my rib,
used to the ridges of forest,
used to the way my thumb
slips into the sea as i pull
it tight. something is sweet
in the thick odor of flesh
burning and sweating and bearing young.
i have learned to carry it
the way a poor man learns
to carry everything."
- atlas
Lucille Clifton
one of the best poetry collections ever to exist
"You kiss my brother mouth.
the rest is silence."
sitting against my rib,
used to the ridges of forest,
used to the way my thumb
slips into the sea as i pull
it tight. something is sweet
in the thick odor of flesh
burning and sweating and bearing young.
i have learned to carry it
the way a poor man learns
to carry everything."
- atlas
Lucille Clifton
one of the best poetry collections ever to exist
"You kiss my brother mouth.
the rest is silence."
lottpoet's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5