The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010 is on the Powell's Books Blog's list of "Favorite Poetry Books of the Past Year and a Half," by reviewer Chris Faatz. "I once had the pleasure of meeting, and hearing read, the prominent African-American poet Lucille Clifton," says Faatz. "It was a high point of my literary life, as I'd admired her work for years... Now her main publisher, BOA Editions, has brought out one of the most beautifully designed books of the season with a table of contents that will floor even the casual reader." Like so many reviews of the new collection, praise is given to both the aesthetic quality and beauty of the book itself, and to the powerful monument of poetry between its covers. "Clifton was not afraid of tackling hard things. She dealt with abuse, with cancer, with religion, with being Black in a racist world. None of her poems, none of her skill, however, was spent in the throwing of propagandistic rocks. She had no fear. Her work — short, to the point, flawlessly constructed — flew straight to the mark. She was one of a kind." The review closes with Lucille Clifton's poem: the tale the shepherds tell the sheep that some will rise above shorn clouds of fleece and some will feel their bodies break but most will pass through this into sweet clover where all all will be sheltered safe until the holy shearing don't think about the days to come sweet meat think of my arms trust me Read the full review. Purchase The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010.