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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Later I'll Say" by Lucille Clifton is a poignant exploration of legacy, identity, and the internal conflicts that arise from living in a world that often demands clear definitions and allegiances. Through the speaker's reflections on her life and the anticipated judgments of her actions and choices, Clifton delves into themes of love, social expectations, and the personal cost of navigating complex identities. The opening line, "later i’ll say / i spent my life / loving a great man," sets a tone of retrospection and perhaps justification. The speaker anticipates a future moment when she will look back on her life and highlight her devotion to a significant other as a defining aspect. However, this declaration is immediately complicated by the anticipated "accusations" her life will make against her, suggesting a tension between her personal narrative and the external evaluations of her choices. The accusations listed—"not black enough / too black / eyes closed when they should have been open / eyes open when they should have been closed"—speak to the impossible standards and contradictory expectations placed upon individuals, particularly those navigating racial identities. The speaker is criticized both for not meeting certain criteria of blackness and for exceeding them, as well as for her perceived failures to engage with or withdraw from the world at the right moments. These criticisms reflect broader societal pressures and the difficulty of living authentically in a world that polices identity and consciousness. The line "will accuse me for unborn babies / and dead trees" expands the scope of the speaker's perceived failures, touching on themes of fertility, environmental responsibility, and perhaps the legacy one leaves behind. These accusations suggest a broader reflection on the impact of one's life choices not only on personal relationships but also on the world at large. The poem's turn, "later / when i defend again and again / with this love," indicates the speaker's reliance on her love for the "great man" as a defense against the accusations her life makes. However, this defense is met with silence from her own life, which is personified as listening to "my body breaking." This silence can be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the complexity of the speaker's experiences and the inadequacy of simple justifications in the face of nuanced realities. The final image of the speaker's body breaking under the weight of her life's accusations is a powerful metaphor for the physical and emotional toll of trying to navigate and reconcile conflicting identities and expectations. "Later I'll Say" is a deeply introspective poem that captures the complexities of self-perception and the struggle to live up to both internal desires and external demands. Lucille Clifton's exploration of identity, love, and the judgments we anticipate from our own lives invites readers to consider their own narratives and the ways in which they defend their choices and reckon with their own perceived failures. Through her characteristic brevity and depth, Clifton offers a nuanced reflection on the human condition and the ongoing process of understanding oneself in relation to the world.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW SEASON by MICHAEL S. HARPER THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: IMANUEL EHRENHARDT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |
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