The theme of Lucille Clifton’s “Tribute to my hips” focuses on a happy, strong, and powerful woman who is absolutely in love with her hips. Clifton’s tone throughout the poem focuses highly on her big hips. Not once does the she speak adversely about them. She feels definitely terrific about her big hips, making her feel so positive and full-bodied all at the very same time. She produces lots of factors to why her hips make her modest, however full of pride.
The beginning of ‘Homage to my hips” illustrates the self-confidence that the speaker has about her hips. “These hips are big hips” (1) demonstrate how the speaker is proud of her huge hips and does not mind what others might think of her hips. I feel like the speaker would be disappointed if she had little hips. The speaker understands that her hips are big and they require additional space when she discusses “they require space to/move around in” (2/3).
The speaker understands her hips do not fit into little locations.
The speaker of “Homage to my hips” is absolutely not embarrassed of her substantially big hips. After the speaker discuss her proud qualities as it pertains to her hips she moves on to discuss why her hips make her strong. In the lines “these hips/are totally free hips (5-6) the speaker demonstrates that her hips do what they want to do. Her wide hips have no restrictions. “These hips have never ever been oppressed” (7) shows the speaker has never been controlled and she can maintain her flexibility by herself.
The speaker shows her strong side by mentioning “they go where they wish to go/they do what they wish to do” (8-9). The big hips do not make her feel weak. Lastly Clifton discusses how her hips make her powerful. I believe that when the speaker states that “these hips are magnificent hips/these hips are magic hips” (11-12) would offer a sense that she can get certain things from a male or provide a male a particular sensation.
Also, the magic of the hips could attract a lover perhaps. I have known them/to put a spell on a man and/spin him like a top” (13-15) suggests that she knows her big hips are sexy and she can still have a sense of sexiness despite her big hips. She knows that her big hips can be a great turn on for a man. Her hips could make a man go wild if she so desired. In conclusion, the theme of Lucille Clifton’s poem gives a woman of bigger hip nature a sense of pride, strength, and prowess. Despite the need for additional room for movement, the woman in this poem is neither disappointed nor ashamed.
She has the freedom to explore wherever she wants. She does not allow anyone to hold her back. Finally, the powerful natures of her big hips coincide with both sex appeal and an attraction. In the end she is satisfied with her big hips. Works Cited Clifton, Lucille. “Homage to my hips.