Lucille Clifton (1936–2010) published numerous poetry collections, including the National Book Award winner Blessing the Boats and The Terrible Stories, nominated for the National Book Award, as well as Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969–1980 and Two-Headed Woman, both nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her many honors include an Emmy, and she was elected a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 1999. Clifton served as poet laureate of Maryland and was a Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary’s College, Maryland.

Dear Jesse Helms

by Lucille Clifton

something is happening
something obscene.

in the night sky
the stars are bursting

into flame. thousands
and thousands of lights

People on couch
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