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Lucille Clifton Sample Poems and Analysis

 

My Moma Moved Among the Days Analysis

Lucille Clifton portrays her mother as a very powerful person in, "My Moma Moved Among the Days". "Like a dream walker in a field" is a simile showing her mother's personality , implying she was a fairly detached person going through "the field" of life. Clifton notes her mother's power over people in her mention of "everything that she touched was hers" though the poem gives the reader the sense that her mother was not aware of this. As she goes on Clifton explains that her mom was a free person, no one could hold her down or keep her to them self. Her Mother led Clifton and her siblings through the "high grass" of life, signifying the difficult parts of life as the high grass would be difficult to walk through. Then ,when they are almost out of this difficult part of life, her mother turns around and runs back in. Clifton means that while her mother did the best she could until she had gotten her kids off into the world then her fear of failure scared her into giving up. This poem does a good job of using an original form to provide a compelling description of the subject.

  

 

 
 

My Moma Moved Among the Days
Lucille Clifton

my moma moved among the days

like a dream walker in a field;

seemed like what she touched was hers

seemed like what touched her couldn't hold,

she got us almost through the high grass

                                        then seems like she turned around and ran

                                       right back in

                                      right back on in

 

 

Good Times Analysis

In the poem "Good Times", Lucille Clifton reflects on the happier days of her youth. By pointing out specifically that the rent is paid and the insurance man is gone, she implies that at other not so good times, these were problems for her family. Bread signifies the luxuries of financial stability. Clifton not only addresses money but also mentions he grandfather and uncle's wellbeing. To Clifton, the good times were when the family was together and happy, free from worrying about money. In the end when she tell the children to think about the the Good Times she is trying make them not forget in bad times that good times do exist, and they can take you away from the pain of bad times.

 

  
Good Times

my daddy has paid the rent
and the insurance man is gone
    and the lights back on
         and my uncle Brud had hit
                  for one dollar straight
                        and they is good times
good times
good times

 
my mama has made bread and grandpaw has come
and everybody is drunk
and dancing in the kitchen
and singing in the kitchen
oh these is good times
good times
good times


oh children think about the
good times