homage to my hips
by Lucille Clifton
these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in.
they don't fit into little
petty 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!
*
*
In 2002, I studied briefly with Lucille Clifton at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers summer program. During her workshop, a man completely broke down while reading his poem. He simply couldn't continue. The room fell silent. Who knew what to say or do? After all, we were strangers...
Some time passed. The man continued to sob.
Very calmly Lucille said: "If someone is crying and you don't reach out to touch him, you have failed."
I'll never forget it.
*
For an absolutely charming video of Clifton reading "homage to my hips," click here.
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