homage to my hips

Clifton, Lucille

Primary Category: Literature / Poetry

Genre: Poem

Annotated by:
Aull, Felice
  • Date of entry: Apr-17-2001
  • Last revised: Nov-15-2006

Summary

these hips are big hips says the woman narrator, as she begins a 15 line celebration of her body and its power. With rhythmic progression, the poem evokes the forward movement of swaying hips--hips that "have never been enslaved", that are "mighty" and "magic" and can "put a spell on a man . . . . "

Commentary

Clifton captures the inseparable reality and symbolism of the body. She uses her body to assert and express selfhood--she accepts it as is, and turns it to her advantage. The body as sexual vehicle is acknowledged, but this body, this person is in charge.

Primary Source

good woman: poems and a memoir, 1969-1980

Publisher

BOA

Place Published

Brockport, N.Y.

Edition

1987