POEM
1994
i was leaving my fifty-eighth year
when a thumb of ice
stamped itself hard near my heart
you have your own story
you know about the fears the tears
the scar of disbelief
you know that the saddest lies
are the ones we tell ourselves
you know how dangerous it is
to be born with breasts
you know how dangerous it is
to wear dark skin
i was leaving my fifty-eighth year
when i woke into the winter
of a cold and mortal body
thin icicles hanging off
the one mad nipple weeping
have we not been good children
did we not inherit the earth
but you must know all about this
from your own shivering life
Lucille Clifton, "1994" from the terrible stories. Copyright © 1996 by Lucille Clifton. Reprinted with the permission of BOA Editions, Ltd.
Source: the terrible stories (BOA Editions, Ltd., 1996)
