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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"If Something Should Happen" by Lucille Clifton is a prophetic and stirring poem that contemplates the potential for catastrophic change and the subsequent collapse of structures of power and control. Through a series of hypothetical scenarios involving the sea and its interactions with human-made constructs, Clifton explores themes of liberation, destruction, and the inevitable confrontation with nature's overwhelming force. The poem serves as a metaphorical reflection on societal upheaval, the fragility of oppressive systems, and the quest for freedom. The repetition of "if" at the beginning of each stanza signals the speculative nature of the poem, inviting the reader to consider the consequences of these potential events. The first scenario, "if the sea should break / and crash against the decks," immediately introduces the power of the sea as a force capable of challenging human attempts to navigate and control it. The imagery of the sea breaking the cargo "against the sides of the sea" evokes a sense of the natural world reclaiming what has been taken from it, a motif that Clifton revisits throughout the poem. The second scenario intensifies this imagery with the breaking of chains, symbolizing the shattering of bonds and the potential for liberation. The chains crashing "against the decks" and breaking "the sides / of the sea" suggests not only physical but also metaphorical breaking, alluding to the breaking of enslavement and confinement. This imagery resonates deeply with historical and contemporary struggles for freedom and equality, emphasizing the power of resistance against oppressive forces. The third scenario expands the metaphor to "the seas of cities," implying a broader scope of upheaval that includes urban environments and their social structures. The crashing of these seas against each other, breaking chains, walls, and the very sides of the seas, portrays a universal merging of struggles and resistances, leading to a cataclysmic change. Clifton's use of the phrase "all the waters of the earth wash together / in a rush of breaking" suggests a unification of forces, a collective breaking free from the constraints that have held back the "cargo," a metaphor for the oppressed or those burdened by societal constraints. The closing lines pose a rhetorical question about the fate of the "captains," those in positions of power and authority, in the face of such overwhelming change. "Where will the captains run and / to what harbor?" Clifton asks, highlighting the uncertainty and fear that accompany the loss of control. The absence of a safe harbor suggests that there is no refuge from the forces of change, no place where the old orders can be preserved unchanged. "If Something Should Happen" is a powerful meditation on the potential for transformative change and the dissolution of oppressive structures. Through vivid imagery and symbolic language, Lucille Clifton captures the essence of revolution and rebirth, challenging readers to contemplate the nature of power, freedom, and the unstoppable force of collective action. The poem serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the inexorable push toward liberation and justice.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BEACH IN AUGUST by WELDON KEES SEASHORE by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS EASTERN LONG ISLAND by MARVIN BELL THE WIND IS BLOWING WEST by JOSEPH CERAVOLO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER EMPTIES INTO THE GULF by LUCILLE CLIFTON GEOGRAPHY AS WARNING by MADELINE DEFREES POWER FAILURE by MADELINE DEFREES VACATION: CALIFORNIA COAST by ALBERT GOLDBARTH CONTENTMENT, AFTER THE MANNER OF HORACE by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY |
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