Book of Light

With a powerful introduction by Ross Gay and a moving afterword by Sidney Clifton, this special anniversary edition of The Book of Light offers new meditations and insights on one of the most beloved voices of the 20th century.Though The Book of Lightopens with thirty-nine names for light, we soon learn the most meaningful name is Lucilledaughter, mother, proud Black woman. Known for her ability to convey multitudes in few words, Clifton writes into the shadowsher fathers violations, a Black neighborhood bombed, death, lossall while illuminating the full spectrum of human emotion: grief and celebration, anger and joy, empowerment and so much grace.A meeting place of myth and the Divine, The Book of Light exists between starshine and clay as Cliftons personas allow us to bear the worlds weight with Atlas and witness conversations between Lucifer and God. While names and dates mark this text as a social commentary responding to her time, it is haunting how easily this collection serves as a political palimpsest of today. We leave these poems inspiredClifton shows us Superman is not our hero. Our hero is the Black female narrator who decides to live. And what a life she creates! Wont you celebrate with me?