Her Voice Still Sounds in My Ears, Like a Clear, Sweet Bell Echoing Off the Mountains . . .

it was a dream
- Lucille Clifton

in which my greater self
rose up before me
accusing me of my life
with her extra finger
whirling in a gyre of rage
at what my days had come to.
what,
i pleaded with her, could i do,
oh what could i have done?
and she twisted her wild hair
and sparked her wild eyes
and screamed as long as
i could hear her
This. This. This.


from: The Book of Light. Copyright 1992.
Painting: The Widening Gyre, Artist: Emily Tellez.

"No One Will Cry Mercy Like Her."

 

it was a dream

    by Lucille Clifton

in which my greater self
rose up before me
accusing me of my life
with her extra finger
whirling in a gyre of rage
at what my days had come to.
what,
i pleaded with her, could i do,
oh what could i have done?
and she twisted her wild hair
and sparked her wild eyes
and screamed as long as
i could hear her 
This.  This.  This.

from: The Book of Light. Copyright 1992.

Quote Gerald Stern.