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Poet Lucille Clifton died yesterday at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was 73 years old and lived in Columbia. Clifton won the National Book Award in 2000 for Blessing the Boats, was a former Maryland poet laureate, taught at St. Mary's College, and contributed memorably to Baltimore's "See Hear" project in 2005. She was humble, gracious, honest, and brilliant.
At times like this, "Bless the Boats" is especially poignant...
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
