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Lucille Clifton

Lucille Clifton was born Thelma Lucille Sayles on June 27, 1936, in Depew, New York, to Samuel and Thelma Moore Sayles. Her father worked in a steel mill and her mother was a launderer. Though neither of her parents had

Blessing the boats

by Lucille Clifton (1936–2010)

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5      <firstname>Lucille</firstname>
6      <lastname>Clifton</lastname>
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8    <life-events>
9      <date ty="birth" circa="false" suffix="ad">1936</date>
10      <text-value>(1936–2010)</text-value>
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15

(at St. Mary's)

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

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