26 January 2013

Won't You Celebrate With Me - Lucile Clifton



won't you celebrate with me

BY LUCILLE CLIFTON
won't you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.

I offer this wonderful poem by Lucile Clifton on my birthday and invite you to celebrate with me. With obvious differences we, nonetheless, also make up our life here between starshine and clay. We are shaping a kind of life with no model as the largest cohort of women elders yet. I was born in the first month of the first year of the baby boomers and we'll be a force to be reckoned with if we choose. Let's choose well and wisely. I'm excited about this prospect of building with you an elder culture; how fortunate we are. I'm grateful for life. 

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12 comments:

  1. The Cranky Crone, she lives alone!26 January, 2013 17:36

    Happy Birthday! and what a wonderful poem to choose to commemorate it!
    Your words are always well heard Mary, thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Grandmother Mary28 January, 2013 03:01

      Thanks, CC. I've saved this poem for this day. Glad you enjoyed.

      Delete
  2. DJan26 January, 2013 18:54

    Happy birthday, Mary. What a wonderful thing to share on your birthday. I am so happy to build a new culture of elders with you! :-)

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    1. Grandmother Mary28 January, 2013 12:54

      And I with you, DJan. We're doing it differently, aren't we?

      Delete
  3. Mary26 January, 2013 19:42

    Wishing you a very happy birthday. And what a wonderful poem you shared on your day. I have a feeling that you are the kind of role model for elder hood that Clifton is. Celebrate your day.

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    1. Grandmother Mary28 January, 2013 12:55

      What a gracious thing to say, thank you and it's my deep wish.

      Delete
  4. Maude Lynn27 January, 2013 00:58

    Happy Birthday!

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  5. Sally Wessely27 January, 2013 05:15

    Happy, happy birthday. Yes, we have been a force to be reckoned with. I too am excited, and grateful, to be building this new culture of elders with you and all the rest of us boomers.

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  6. Brian Miller28 January, 2013 05:39

    happy belated birthday to you...smiles. there is always reason to celebrate...if for no other reason, that whatever it was failed and i have a new day to live...smiles...

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    Replies
    1. Grandmother Mary28 January, 2013 12:59

      It's surprising to me how her words resonate in me, too. So, yes, I'm grateful for life and its challenges.

      Delete

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