homage to my hips by Lucille Clifton, Poet Laureate, Maryland, 1979-1985
these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in.
they don’t fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don’t like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top!
We will explore the poetry of women Poets Laureate of the US, and selected, similarly recognized women poets of Canada, Ireland, England, Scotland, and New Zealand. From the personal to the political, from the celebratory to the sad, from the real to the surreal and the mysterious—it’s all there in the wonderful poems of these award-winning poets.
Format: Discussion. Participants will select a poet and her poems from a suggested list or from their own research and give a short presentation on the poet along with a few questions about the poems for discussion. Coordinators provide guides on reading and enjoying poetry.
Resources/Expenses: No text. The coordinators will provide a list of poets along with links and suggestions.