She published her first book of poetry, The First Cities, in 1968.
In 1954 she spent a year at the National University of Mexico. She would later cite this period as being that which affirmed her identity as a poet and lesbian. It was also around this period of time that Lorde married Edward Rollins, a gay man, with whom she would have two children. The couple divorced in 1970. Lorde was to meet her long-time partner Francis Clayton two years later. She published her first book of poetry, The First Cities, in 1968.