these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in.
they don't fit into little
pretty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don't like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved.
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man
and spin him like a top!
--Lucille Clifton
Photo: JKerr Ellen's Hips
10 comments:
OMG I love this! I'll be reciting this all day.
I'm sure there must be a link someone on the Internet to an audio of Lucille Clifton reading this poem. I've been lucky enough to hear her read this poem in person, and it's even better!
Every woman of size will LOVE this poem. I sure do. I am on my way to memorizing it. Makes me want to swing my hips, it do.
nienke, wish I could hear you reciting this.
jim, I bet nienke sounds almost as good as Lucille!
anni--swing away! I'll swing along with you!
Thanks for posting this...now if she'd only write one on bellies! What a great poem.
Pris, she probably has. I'll check it out!
Actually, Clifton wrote one (as did Anne Sexton) called "To My Uterus." where she refers to her uterus as a :stocking I will not need/where I am going," and as her "estrogen kitchen."
She says "You have been patient/as a sock/ while I have slippered into you/my dead and living children."
These from "Songs of Herself: Lucille Clifton's Poems about Womanhood."
This is as close to "bellies" as I could get. :)
I loved it! Perfect :)
This is one of my all-time favorite poems. Like Jim, I have heard Miss Lucille read it so if you can find audio, listen to her read.
One of my regrets in life is that I did not have the chance to take a class with her. Lucille also is an amazing teacher.
This poem was just meant tobe.
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