Lucille Clifton




new orleans

when the body floated by me
on the river     it was a baby
body thin and brown
it was not my alexandra 
my noah
not even my river
it was a dream
but when i woke i knew
somewhere there is a space
in a grandmother’s sleep
if she can sleep
if she is alive
and i want her to know
that the baby is not abandoned
is in grandmothers hearts
and we will remember
forever