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Image Description: A photo of the cover of one of Lucille Clifton’s poetry anthologies. The background of the cover is a photograph of Lucille Clifton. She is wearing ornate wire-rimmed glasses, a simple black top, dangling black jeweled earrings, and red lipstick. She holds her left hand up to her chin in thought, gazing thoughtfully off to her right, a slight smile on her face. Her white afro is closely trimmed. Overlaid over her photo is a semi-transparent yellow banner with the words “The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010: Edited by Kevin Young and Michael S. Glazer” written in black and maroon font, respectively. The phrase “Foreword by Toni Morrison” is written underneath in black, all-caps lettering.)

the collected poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010

The culmination of a 40-year career by one of America’s most revered poets, The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010 combines all of Lucille Clifton’s published collections with 69 previously unpublished poems. The unpublished pieces feature early poems from 1965-1969, a collection-in-progress entitled Book of Days, and a poignant selection of final poems. An insightful Foreword by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, and a comprehensive Afterword by noted poet Kevin Young, frame Clifton’s lifetime body of work, providing a definitive statement about this major American poet’s career. This landmark volume is a must-have for all of Clifton’s fans—past, present, and future.

Excerpts

(Image Description: a photo collage of three photos of Lucille Clifton taken in one sitting session. The middle photograph is shown in full color. It depicts a headshot of Lucille in her later years. She is wearing a black collared jacket with bold pink floral print. Lucille is wearing wire-rimmed oversize glasses and small gold hoop earrings. She gazes slightly off-center, smiling lightly with her hand folded against her cheek. Her hair is a short, white afro. The photos to the left and right of center show Lucille in the same outfit, but are in black and white. In the left photo, Lucille gazes off-camera to her right with an open-mouthed smile. In the right photograph, Lucille has her hand curled against her cheek and wears a wide grin. She is glancing to her left, eyes closed in laughter.)

"Best of the best."

Lucille Clifton’s writing some of the best there is. True to life. Simple but profound. One of my ultra favorite authors.

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