Passwords: Elizabeth Alexander on Lucille Clifton

“Clifton’s poems invite meditation and return” wrote Obama inaugural poet and Yale professor Elizabeth Alexander about Lucille Clifton (1936-2010). “Time and again, she made luminous poems premised on clear truth-telling, but always with a twist, and with space for evocation and mystery.” Alexander discusses this beloved author, whose luminous poems and dynamic life impacted our poetry and our culture.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition “come celebrate with me: The Work of Lucille Clifton,” featuring rare photos, letters, manuscripts and more, from Emory University’s Danowski Poetry Library at the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Book Library, on view at Poets House until March 14, 2014.