Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ca'line's Prayer" by Lucille Clifton is a deeply moving and poignant poem that delves into themes of aging, displacement, and longing for spiritual and physical rejuvenation. Through the voice of Ca'line, Clifton explores the experience of losing one's connection to their cultural and spiritual roots, embodied in the harsh landscape of a "desert country" that reflects Ca'line's sense of alienation and thirst for renewal.

The poem opens with Ca'line acknowledging her advanced age and the arid conditions of her environment, both physically and spiritually: "i have got old / in a desert country / i am dry / and black as drought." These lines convey a profound sense of desolation and weariness, with the metaphor of drought capturing not only the physical barrenness of the landscape but also the spiritual and emotional depletion Ca'line feels. The stark imagery of being "dry and black as drought" also suggests a deep connection to her African heritage, which has been withered by the harsh conditions of her current life.

Ca'line's lament that she does not "make water / only acid / even dogs wont drink" further emphasizes her feelings of worthlessness and despair. The acid, unfit for consumption, symbolizes the toxic remnants of a life spent in harsh conditions, a life that has become so embittered that it can offer no sustenance or comfort, even to the lowest creatures.

The turn of the poem comes with Ca'line's invocation of her ancestral home and a plea for remembrance and salvation: "remember me from wydah / remember the child / running across dahomey / black as ripe papaya / juicy as sweet berries." These lines are rich with nostalgia and a yearning for the vibrancy and fertility of her youth and homeland. The imagery of "black as ripe papaya / juicy as sweet berries" evokes a sense of abundance and life, contrasting sharply with the dryness and acidity that have come to define her present state.

Ca'line's prayer culminates in a request for spiritual immersion and cleansing: "and set me in the rivers of your glory / Ye Ma Jah." This final appeal to Ye Ma Jah, a reference to the divine, is a plea for restoration and healing. The rivers of glory symbolize a return to a state of grace and spiritual wholeness, a reconnection with the divine source that sustains and nourishes life. Ca'line's prayer is not just for physical water but for the spiritual waters that can revive her parched soul and restore her to her former vitality.

"Ca'line's Prayer" is a testament to Lucille Clifton's ability to weave complex themes of identity, displacement, and spiritual longing into a compact and powerful narrative. Through the character of Ca'line, Clifton gives voice to the experiences of those who have been uprooted from their cultural and spiritual homes, offering a poignant reflection on the human capacity for resilience and the enduring hope for renewal and redemption.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...