|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Daddy" by Lucille Clifton is a poignant reflection on loss, memory, and the enduring influence of a father's presence and absence in the lives of those he leaves behind. Through this deeply personal poem, Clifton navigates the complexities of grief, the continuity of life amidst loss, and the legacy of strength and confidence bequeathed by her father. The poem oscillates between the inexorable march of time and the eternal imprint of a loved one's character on the living. The poem opens with a date range, "12/02 - 5/69," presumably marking the lifespan of Clifton's father, immediately situating the reader in the personal and historical context of her loss. The starkness of these dates highlights the finality of death and the measured passage of time, framing the ensuing reflection on the nature of remembering and moving forward. Clifton's observation that "the days have kept on coming, daddy or not" speaks to the relentless progression of time irrespective of personal tragedy. Life continues, marked by the changing seasons ("the cracks / in the sidewalk turn green") and the routine of daily life ("and the Indian women sell pussywillows on the corner"). Yet, this continuity is imbued with a sense of absence, a space where "daddy was," underscoring the void that a loved one's death leaves behind. The juxtaposition of "nothing remembers" with "everything remembers" captures the paradox of grief, where the world seems indifferent to the loss yet simultaneously saturated with the memory of the departed. This tension between forgetting and remembering, between the personal and the universal, reflects the complex process of mourning and the enduring connection to the lost loved one. Clifton characterizes her father as "a confident man," a description that resonates throughout the poem. His confidence, even in the face of his own mortality ("'ll go to Heaven," he said, "Jesus knows me"), becomes a source of inspiration and comfort for those he leaves behind. The anecdote of her father's pragmatic response to the death of his leg ("he cut it off") further illustrates his resilience and determination, qualities that Clifton seeks to emulate and pass on to her own children. The poem closes with a moment of intimate conversation between Clifton and her son, who wonders about the future "without you." This fear of loss, mirrored from child to parent, underscores the cyclical nature of life and death, and the universal quest for reassurance in the face of uncertainty. Clifton offers hope through the legacy of "the life in the confident man," suggesting that the qualities of strength, resilience, and confidence live on in the survivors, shaping their approach to life and its challenges. "Daddy" is a testament to the power of memory and the influence of parental legacies on future generations. Lucille Clifton masterfully weaves together themes of loss, remembrance, and the indomitable human spirit, offering a nuanced and heartfelt exploration of the impact of a father's life and death on his family. Through her poetic exploration of grief and resilience, Clifton invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of loss and the enduring bonds of love and memory that connect the living to the departed.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE JEWELS AND THE GRACCHI by JOHN HOLLANDER A MOUNTAIN MOTHER by WILLIAM ASPENWALL BRADLEY SONG: EARLY DEATH OF THE MOTHER by GREGORY ORR POEM FOR MY SONS by MINNIE BRUCE PRATT DOORS, DOORS, DOORS: 2. SEAMSTRESS by ANNE SEXTON A SENSE OF DIRECTION by KAREN SWENSON |
| |