Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Entering the South" by Lucille Clifton is a poignant reflection on heritage, memory, and the complex intertwining of love, loss, and guilt. Through the symbolic act of wearing her mother's coat, Clifton navigates the depths of familial connections, the histories carried within objects passed down through generations, and the broader historical and ethical implications of those connections. The poem is set against the backdrop of the South, a region fraught with its own history of violence and struggle, adding layers of meaning to the act of wearing the coat and the legacy it represents.

The opening line, "i have put on my mother's coat," immediately establishes a personal connection to the past and the act of stepping into a role or identity that has been left behind by a loved one. The coat is described as "warm and familiar as old fur," evoking a sense of comfort and belonging, yet also hinting at the darker implications of wearing fur, with its associations of death and exploitation. This duality sets the tone for the poem, exploring the interplay between warmth and violence, love and loss.

Clifton's ability to "hear hushed voices through it" suggests that the coat is not just a garment but a repository of stories, memories, and perhaps secrets from the past. The mention of "too many / animals have died to make this" further complicates the narrative, introducing a sense of mourning and guilt for the lives taken to create the coat. This line can also be interpreted metaphorically, hinting at the human costs and sacrifices embedded in family histories and cultural legacies, especially within the context of the South.

The imagery of the sleeves coiling "down to my hands like rope" adds a sense of entrapment or burden, as if the legacy represented by the coat is both a source of strength and a weight to be carried. Clifton's decision to wear the coat because her mother loved it signifies a choice to embrace and honor her mother's memory, despite the complex emotions and histories attached to it.

The closing lines, "but the blood from it pools on my shoulders / heavy and dark and alive," capture the profound impact of inheriting such a legacy. The blood, heavy and alive, symbolizes the vibrant and often painful histories that are passed down through generations. It represents the inescapable connection to the past, the weight of memory and history that individuals carry with them, particularly as they navigate spaces imbued with their own violent legacies, like the South.

"Entering the South" is a deeply moving exploration of identity, memory, and the burdens of history. Lucille Clifton masterfully weaves together personal and collective narratives, inviting readers to reflect on their own inherited legacies and the ways in which love, history, and ethical considerations intersect in the objects and memories we hold dear. Through the act of wearing her mother's coat, Clifton confronts the complexities of her heritage and the ongoing influence of the past on the present, offering a nuanced meditation on the ties that bind us to our ancestors and our history.

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