Lucille Clifton began writing poetry when she was about ten years old. She had developed an interest in poetry because of her mother, Thelma Sayles. Her mother was also a poet although her poems were never published. As a child Lucille would sit on her mother's lap and listen as she read poetry. She learned to love words and the power of words. That stayed with her as she grew.
There was another experience that stayed with her, too. Once, her mother was offered a chance to publish her poetry. But her husband, Samuel Sayles, ordered her not to do it. In anger, and sorrow, Missus Sayles threw her poems into a fire. That memory also stayed with Lucille. She would write about it years later in her poem called "fury". Like many of Lucille Clifton's poems, "fury" is personal. It deals with her own experiences.
Posted By: October Gallery
Saturday, April 17th 2010 at 6:55PM
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