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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Listen Children" by Lucille Clifton is a profound and uplifting poem that serves as a testament to the resilience, love, and unity within the African American community. Addressed to the younger generation, it is both a reminder and a call to remember the enduring spirit of love that has sustained the community through the trials of racism, shame, and exhaustion. Through its simple yet powerful language, the poem encapsulates a message of hope, pride, and the importance of passing down these values through generations. The poem begins with a direct appeal, "listen children," setting an intimate and urgent tone. Clifton emphasizes the importance of the message she is about to impart, urging the children to keep it "in the place / you have for keeping / always / keep it all ways." This repetition and play on the word "always" reinforces the timeless and all-encompassing nature of the message. "We have never hated black," Clifton asserts, confronting and negating any internalized racism or self-hatred that may have been instilled by societal prejudice. This line serves as a powerful affirmation of self-love and pride in one's identity, challenging the narratives of inferiority that have historically oppressed African Americans. The poem acknowledges the complex emotions experienced by the community—"ashamed / hopeless tired mad"—but insists that these feelings have never eclipsed the fundamental love for themselves and each other. This distinction is crucial, as it recognizes the pain and struggle without allowing it to define the entirety of the African American experience. "Always / all ways / we loved us," the poem repeats, emphasizing the unwavering and multifaceted nature of this love. It is a love that persists in all ways and always, a foundational truth that Clifton urges the children to embrace and carry within themselves. The final lines, "we have always loved each other / children all ways / pass it on," serve as both a declaration and an injunction. Clifton not only celebrates the enduring love within the community but also charges the younger generation with the responsibility of preserving and transmitting this legacy. The phrase "pass it on" is a call to action, urging children to carry forward the message of love, resilience, and unity to future generations. "Listen Children" is a powerful ode to the strength and beauty of the African American community's spirit. Lucille Clifton masterfully crafts a poem that is both a comforting embrace and a rallying cry, reminding the younger generation of the love that binds them together and the importance of holding onto and sharing that love in the face of adversity. Through its heartfelt message, the poem inspires hope and pride, serving as a beacon of light for both the present and future generations.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NIGHTMARE BEGINS RESPONSIBILITY by MICHAEL S. HARPER BLACK WOMAN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FOREDOOM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON I MUST BECOME A MENACE TO MY ENEMIES by JUNE JORDAN A SONG FOR SOWETO by JUNE JORDAN ON THE LOSS OF ENERGY (AND OTHER THINGS) by JUNE JORDAN POEM ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE by JUNE JORDAN DRAFT OF A RAP FOR WEN HO LEE by JUNE JORDAN THE NIGHT THAT LORCA COMES by BOB KAUFMAN THE MYSTIC RIVER by GALWAY KINNELL |
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