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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained
I WAS BORN WITH TWELVE FINGERS, by LUCILLE CLIFTON Recitation by Author Poet Analysis Poet's Biography | |||
"I Was Born With Twelve Fingers" by Lucille Clifton is a compelling exploration of familial lineage, difference, and the supernatural as a source of power. Through the unique imagery of being born with twelve fingers, Clifton delves into themes of inherited traits, societal fears of the other, and the enduring connection between generations of women. This poem celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary, framing what might be seen as a physical anomaly as a symbol of inherited strength and mystical ability. The opening line, "i was born with twelve fingers / like my mother and my daughter," immediately establishes a lineage of women marked by this distinctive trait. This shared physical characteristic becomes a bond that transcends time, linking the speaker with both her ancestors and her descendants. The repetition of this trait across generations suggests a deeper, metaphysical connection that goes beyond mere genetic inheritance. The imagery of "born wearing strange black gloves / extra baby fingers hanging over the sides of our cribs and / dipping into the milk" is both vivid and symbolic. The "strange black gloves" and the "extra baby fingers" dipping into the milk evoke a sense of the uncanny, of something familiar yet unsettling. This imagery reflects society's often fearful and mystified reaction to difference, as well as the natural curiosity and potential for wonder that such differences embody. Clifton addresses societal fears directly with "somebody was afraid we would learn to cast spells / and our wonders were cut off." This line speaks to the historical and cultural tendency to suppress or eliminate what is not understood, especially when it pertains to women's bodies and their potential for power. The act of cutting off the extra fingers is a metaphor for the broader suppression of women's strength and agency. However, the poem asserts the resilience and enduring power of the speaker and her lineage with "but they didn’t understand / the powerful memory of ghosts." The "memory of ghosts" suggests that even when physical attributes are altered or erased, the spiritual and metaphysical essence remains intact and influential. This line posits that true power lies not in the physical realm but in the connections and memories that persist beyond tangible form. The concluding lines, "Now / we take what we want / with invisible fingers / and we connect / my dead mother my live daughter and me / through our terrible shadowy hands," are a triumphant declaration of agency and connection. The "invisible fingers" and "terrible shadowy hands" symbolize the unseen ways in which these women exert their influence and maintain their bond. The poem closes on a note of unity and strength, celebrating the unbreakable ties that bind these women together across life and death. "I Was Born With Twelve Fingers" is a powerful testament to the strength found in difference and the enduring bonds of female lineage. Lucille Clifton masterfully weaves together themes of heritage, power, and resistance, inviting readers to reconsider the value and significance of what society may deem abnormal or frightening. Through her poignant and imaginative verse, Clifton celebrates the extraordinary capabilities and connections that define us, both visible and invisible.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY FATHER, MY HANDS by RICHARD BLANCO MY MOTHER'S HANDS by ANDREW HUDGINS TEN OXHERDING PICTURES: A MEDITATION by LUCILLE CLIFTON FIFTH GRADE AUTOBIOGRAPHY by RITA DOVE THE TYPICAL HAND by ELENI SIKELIANOS THE CARPENTER by PRIMUS ST. JOHN |
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