Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Dream of Foxes" by Lucille Clifton presents a vivid and serene tableau that contrasts sharply with the often harsh realities of nature and human society. Through this dreamlike narrative, Clifton explores themes of innocence, safety, and the yearning for a world untouched by violence and fear. The poem constructs a space where the natural and the feminine coexist in harmony, free from the threats that typically mar their existence. It is a meditation on the possibility of peace and purity in a world that frequently denies such states, especially to women and the wild.

The setting of the poem in a dream is significant, suggesting a realm of possibility beyond the constraints of the physical world. Dreams, in Clifton's vision, offer a canvas for imagining realities that defy our daily experiences of conflict and danger. The "field" serves as a symbol of openness and potential, a vast space where freedom and peace can flourish. This setting, idyllic and untouched, stands in stark contrast to the often-violent interactions between humans and nature, as well as the societal violence inflicted upon women.

The "procession of women / clean as good children" evokes a sense of purity and innocence. These women, unmarked by "fear or guilt or shame," represent an ideal of untainted existence. Clifton's choice to describe the women as "clean" and likening them to "good children" underscores a return to a state of original grace, where the complexities and compromises of adult life have not yet imposed themselves. This imagery conjures a world where being "clean" is not a matter of physical state but of an existential purity, a freedom from the moral ambiguities and compromises that mark human social existence.

Notably, the poem negates the presence of violence and predation: "no hollow in the world / surrounded by dogs / no fur clumped bloody / on the ground." This negation is powerful, carving out a space in the dream where the natural predatory instincts of the dogs and the vulnerability of the foxes are suspended. It's a world reimagined, where the cycle of predation and fear is broken, and all creatures can move through life unharmed and unthreatened.

The "lovely time / of honest women stepping / without fear or guilt or shame" is a particularly poignant phrase. It suggests a longing for a state of being where women, like the foxes, can exist in the world without the imposition of fear, guilt, or shame—emotions that often circumscribe women's experiences. Their movement "safe through the generous fields" speaks to a profound desire for a world that is not only safe but also generous, a world that offers abundance and protection to all its inhabitants.

"A Dream of Foxes" is a quietly radical poem. In its envisioning of a world free from violence, where women and nature exist in a state of mutual respect and safety, Lucille Clifton articulates a powerful dream of peace and harmony. It is a reflection on the potential for innocence and purity in a world that often feels overwhelmingly marred by violence and fear. Through this dream, Clifton invites readers to imagine, and perhaps strive for, a world that mirrors the peace and safety of the fields she describes.

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