Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Cutting Greens" by Lucille Clifton is a deeply evocative poem that explores themes of connection, nature, and the visceral experience of preparing food. Through the simple act of cutting greens, Clifton delves into a meditation on the complex and often overlooked relationship between humans and the natural world. The poem transcends the mundane, imbuing the act of cutting vegetables with a profound sense of intimacy, violence, and unity.

The poem opens with the speaker "curling them around," holding the greens in an "obscene embrace." This language immediately introduces a tension between the act of preparation and the inherent violence of consumption. The choice of the word "obscene" suggests a level of intimacy and intrusion, as if the act of cutting the greens is a violation of their natural state. Yet, this embrace is also one of care and attentiveness, highlighting the paradoxical relationship humans have with the food they consume.

The mention of "collards and kale" specifically roots the poem in the traditions of Southern cooking, invoking cultural and familial connections. These greens, "strain against each strange other / away from my kissmaking hand," are personified, given a will and a desire to resist the transformation from living plant to food. This resistance adds a layer of complexity to the act of preparation, suggesting a recognition of the life force within the greens, a life force that is both foreign and familiar.

The imagery of the "iron bedpot" and the cutting board and hand that "are black" introduces a stark, almost industrial contrast to the organic nature of the greens. The repetition of blackness creates a visual and thematic depth, evoking the soil from which the greens were harvested and the ancestral connections to land and agriculture. For a moment, "the greens roll black under the knife," and the kitchen itself becomes a living entity, "twists dark on its spine." This transformation of the kitchen into a dynamic, almost sentient space reflects the speaker's deepening connection to the act of cutting greens, an act that transcends its simplicity to touch upon something primal and universal.

The poem concludes with the speaker tasting "in my natural appetite / the bond of live things everywhere." This line captures the essence of the poem—a recognition of the interconnectedness of all life, the shared bond that exists between the human and the non-human. The act of cutting greens, then, becomes a ritual of acknowledgment and respect for the life that sustains us, a moment of kinship with the natural world that is often overlooked in the routine of daily life.

"Cutting Greens" is a testament to Lucille Clifton's ability to find depth and meaning in the ordinary, to illuminate the profound connections that bind us to the earth and to each other. Through her vivid imagery and thoughtful contemplation, Clifton invites readers to consider their own relationships with the food they eat and the natural world that provides it, urging a deeper appreciation for the cycles of life and death that nourish us.

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