Reviews

Mercy by Lucille Clifton

myriadreads's review

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5.0

This is one of the most stirring and striking books of poetry that I have ever read! If you haven't checked out this poet's work, do it!

jnicweb's review

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emotional reflective

4.0

Loved the one about her mother! 

percystjoan's review

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5.0

children

they are right, the poet mother
carries her wolf in her heart,
wailing at pain yet suckling it like
romulus and remus. this now.
how will i forgive myself
for trying to bear the weight of this
and trying to bear the weight also
of writing the poem
about this?

[also: mulberry fields, the river between us, and powell.]

raloveridge's review

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4.0

"you have placed yourselves
in peril
not by your superior sword
but by your insignificant
quarrels with life"

—from "the message from The Ones"

A really lovely collection—these are hard-hitting and strange in places, not terribly similar to other Clifton I've read. I liked this an awful lot.

tgrvs78's review

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5.0

Tender poetry that deals with time, memory, loss, suffering and the strength of a heart. Grief can be a hard thing to name and surviving it really does shape someone’s life.

kiramke's review

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4.0

Excellent. Love her voice. Looking forward to the next collection.

caterpillarnotebooks's review

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5.0

this was fantastic

2000s's review

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3.5

A lot of this collection felt muddy and disjointed for me, maybe it was just too abstract and rambly for my liking. I do really admire Lucille Clifton though and she has some really beautiful poems. My favorite from this collection was probably "mulberry fields." I'll probably revisit and read more closely. 

jeninmotion's review

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emotional medium-paced

4.5

There are just a few lines in this that are devastating and crystal clear, as well as the title poem of the collection. Great work.

syaarszly's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0