Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Lucille Clifton (1936-2010)
MSA SC 3520-13587

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Papenfuse Topic File Collection) Clifton, Lucille, 350th Anniversary Poem,  MSA SC 1916-B29-F548.

"On the Occasion of Maryland's 350th Birthday"

from the Ark
of refuge,
from the Dove
of peace,
we have become.

we celebrate
three hundred fifty years
of learning.

turning
watermen and women,
hill folk and city,
into citizens.

safe now and at peace
in this proud state 
named for a woman

we blend our brown
and yellow, red
and black and white
into a greater We.

Maryland,
heiress to refuge
and to peace,
We celebrate.
We praise.

                                                                        Lucille Clifton
                                                                        Poet Laureate of Maryland
                                                                                    3/84

Copyright © 1984 by Lucille Clifton

Return to Lucille Clifton's Introductory Page



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