Black Buffalo Woman: An Introduction to the Poetry & Poetics of Lucille Clifton

(Paperback)

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This long-awaited and much-needed volume shines new light on one of Americas most beloved, and profound, poetsLucille Clifton.

Black Buffalo Womanis a deep, comprehensive dive into Cliftons work through the eyes of celebrated poet and scholar, Kazim Ali. Collecting chapters of Cliftons early manuscripts, late drafts, and integrating her books of childrens literature, Alis meticulously researched volume provides a brilliant and fresh perspective on Cliftons life and work.

Various chapters examine Cliftons treatment of the body as a site of both joy and danger, spirituality, and interrogation of American history, politics, and popular culture. The result of Alis scholarship and care highlights a dazzling array of Cliftons poetic techniques and forms that will continue to inspire poets for decades to come.

Reviews

"There are few joys as authentic as witnessing one poet praise and honor another. Lucille Clifton is one such poet that deserves all the praise from those of us who attempt to wander in her wake. In Black Buffalo Woman, Kazim Ali allows for not only the elucidation of Clifton's poems, but for their illumination. Each thoughtful essay lifts her poems to the light and returns you to Clifton's brilliance and power." Ada Limn, 2022 Poet Laureate of the United States, author of The Carrying

"In Kazim Alis Black Buffalo Woman, Lucille Cliftons poetic craft is given the microscope it deserves. Her scope and reach are oft forgotten; here, illuminated and celebrated, her heartwork and mastery go hand-in-hand, as she has created her own syntax, metered music, decadent elegies and infinite memory. Ali understands that Black language is myriad, so Clifton creates unparalleled nuance, moving language inside out of itself, reinscribing history. Her poems are fearless, funny, sexy, lush, biting, spiritual while political, reverent and indignant, rune and ruminationshe contains multitudes. In her hands, the body is an opening, a pathway to divinity, no matter how broken, how willful or wild and dark. In Black Buffalo Woman, Lucille Cliftons spirit goes on, words transcend, and her craft is a collage of blooming, 'a perpetual asking,' insisting we re-examine each realm of our ever-difficult, ever-miraculous living." Remica Bingham-Risher, author of Soul Culture: Black Poets, Books and Questions that Grew Me Up

Author Bio

Kazim Alis books encompass multiple genres, including the volumes of poetryInquisition,Sky Ward, winner of the Ohioana Book Award in Poetry;The Far Mosque, winner of Alice James Books New England/New York Award;The Fortieth Day;All Ones Blue; and the cross-genre textsBright FelonandWind Instrument. His novels include, The Secret Room: A String Quartetand his hybrid memoirs include,Silver Road: Essays, Maps & CalligraphiesandFasting for Ramadan: Notes from a Spiritual Practice.

Ali is also an accomplished translator and an editor of several anthologies and criticisms. After a career in public policy and organizing, he taught at various colleges and universities. He is currently a Professor of Comparative Literature and Creative Writing, and chair of the Department of Literature at the University of California, San Diego. His newest books are Sukun: New and Selected Poems, and the novel Indian Winter.