A review by raulbime
The Book of Light by Lucille Clifton

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.