Edward Hirsch on Reading Poetry

not a poem, but a great short interview piece...

http://bigthink.com/edwardhirsch

She Understands Me

by Lucille Clifton (1936-2010)
in grateful memory

it is all blood and breaking,
blood and breaking, the thing
drops out of its box squalling
into the light. they are both squalling,
animal and cage. her bars lie wet, open
and empty and she has made herself again
out of flesh out of dictionaries,
she is always emptying and it is all
the same wound the same blood the same breaking.

The Latest

keeps going left
back to work
in a garden of clouds

hoping not to get caught
in other people's weather
one more time

still awakening last night
while alarms sound ever closer
to the storm

you are a soul
a challenging luxury
not to be complacent

surprised by the heft
but not by ubiquitous voice
or your shadow left in the night

Prayer for Haiti on Shabbat

from lack,
may abundance flourish

from fear,
may strength grow

from destruction,
may compassion and connection 
take flight