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Blessing the Boats

Lucille Clifton 1936 (NY) – 2010 (Baltimore)

(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
love your back     may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that

About this poem

This poem is about transition.

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Submitted by rip_k on March 15, 2022

Modified on May 01, 2023

18 sec read
37

Quick analysis:

Scheme X XXXXXXXXXAAXX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 311
Words 62
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 1, 13
Full analysis for Blessing the Boats »

Lucille Clifton

Lucille Clifton was an American poet whose works include "The Poetry of the Negro" and "Blessing the Boats." more…

All Lucille Clifton poems | Lucille Clifton Books

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    "Blessing the Boats" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/122595/blessing-the-boats>.

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