Sabbath Devotional :: Poetry by Lucille Clifton

The Monk by the Sea, Caspar David Friedrich, 1810

I am in the throes of school assignments all weekend and in spite of my best efforts as always down to the wire writing my Sabbath devotional! Forgive me for keeping it short and sweet and borrowing the words of another. I want to share two Lucille Clifton poems, of many that I love written by her. Poetry is one of my favorite genres to read and I find poetry is a wonderful complement to my spiritual study — the space between the words leaves room to think deeply.

Both poems below by Lucille Clifton

my dream about God

He is wearing my grandfather’s hat.
He is taller than my last uncle.
when He sits to listen
He leans forward tilting the chair

where His chin cups in my father’s hand.
it is swollen and hard from creation.
His fingers drum on His knee
dads stern tattoo.

and who do i dream i am
accepting His attentions?

i am the good daughter who stays home
singing and sewing.
when I whisper He strains to hear me and
He does whatever i say.

blessing the boats
(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

I own a collection of Lucille Clifton’s poems that I have read sporadically but haven’t yet read cover-to-cover. I came across “my dream about God” when I was preparing a talk for sacrament meeting on Father’s Day a few months ago and I shared it in my talk. I love the way Clifton writes about seeing divinity in the men around her and I also love the imagery implied in the last stanza of Martha in the New Testament. It is a beautiful reminder that God wants to give us good things. The second poem, “blessing the boats” is another longtime favorite. Clifton’s words are given as an act of sanctifying the conditions of a journey so that they will be favorable. Winds that “love your back” are ideal for sailing or boating, propelling you the way you want to go. But just as easily, winds can wreak havoc for navigation; no wind leaves you stuck in the doldrums, while too much or too forceful of winds can be hazardous. Similarly, water can be calm and smooth, or waves can create turbulence and send currents that slow or impede your progress. I love Clifton’s simple invocation of faith at the start of the journey, and I love its resonance with the familiar story of Christ calming the storm.