Whispered to Lucifer
lucifer six-finger
where have you gone to
with your swift lightning
oh son of the morning
was it the woman
enticed you to leave us
was it to touch her
featherless arm
was it to curl your belly
around her
that you fell laughing
your grace all ashard
leaving us here in
perpetual evening
even the guardians
silent all of us
going about our
fathers’ business
less radiant
less sure
Eve’s Version
smooth talker
slides into my dreams
and fills them with apple
apple snug as my breast
in the palm of my hand
apple sleek apple sweet
and bright in my mouth
it is your own lush self
you hunger for
he whispers lucifer
honey-tongue
Lucille Clifton
Lucille Clifton's many collections of poetry have won the National Book Award and twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her first book, Good Times, was rated by the New York Times as one of the best books of 1969. Since then she has served as Maryland's Poet Laureate, and currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
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