blackgirl looking at blackbird
daughter of a darker egg
she names herself
blackbird
born so beautiful
the birds fly north
while she waits lost from
paradise
dreaming of return
time passes
new creators come
glowing like snow
deciding what is
beautiful
they do not mention
blackbird
blackbird
in the dark she rises
on her mutilated wing
moans and dips and sighs
no strangers to desire
poets rhapsodize
of eden lost
but fail to hear
the music
blackbird
singing herself
home
Credit
From At the Gate: Uncollected Poems, 1987–2010 by Lucille Clifton, edited by Kazim Ali. Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Boa Editions, Ltd.
Date Published
01/01/2026