Two Poems

[annundriel]

Because I read an interview with Sherman Alexie in which he mentioned Lucille Clifton and I had to pick my copy of Blessing the Boats up again, here are two of her poems I enjoy. (Two more here.)

why some people be mad at me sometimes

they ask me to remember
but they want me to remember
their memories
and i keep on remembering
mine

*

blessing the boats

may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that