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Maurice Carlos Ruffin reads Enemies by Lucille Clifton.

Brought to you by Complexly, The Poetry Foundation, and poet Paige Lewis. Learn more: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/

Maurice Carlos Ruffin:
https://loweramericanson.com/
https://twitter.com/MauriceRuffin

Poem: Enemies by Lucille Clifton
Book: The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010
Press: BOA Editions, Ltd.

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Hello I'm Maurice Carlos Ruffin and I'm gonna read Lucille Clifton's Enemies.

I chose this poem because it is a brilliant mixture of the feeling of both aggression and kindness. I've never seen anything quite like it in a poem, that's why I enjoy it so much.

enemies

evening.
i creep
into the tent
of Saul.

for his sake
i have learned
the taste of blood.
in battle
i would drink his
and he mine.

we have become
enemies

yer here
he is an old man
sleeping
or my father.

i will remove
his armaments
his sword
his shield.

come morning
he will know himself
naked but alive

and i will remember 
myself also.  David.
the poet David.