me and you be sisters.
we be the same.

me and you
coming from the same place.

me and you
be greasing our legs
touching up our edges.

me and you
be scared of rats
be stepping on roaches.

me and you
come running high down purdy street one time
and mama laugh and shake her head at
me and you.

me and you
got babies
got thirty-five
got black
let our hair go back
be loving ourselves
be loving ourselves
be sisters.

only where you sing,
I poet.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Lucille Clifton's poem sisters

1 Comment

  1. Gunnar Bengtsson says:
    June 14, 2005 at 2:58 am

    Powerful stuff about the connection between siblings. I like the way Lucille Clifton expresses a deep insight using simple words and grammar, without losing any feeling. Perhaps the simplicity of language is what makes the poem so striking.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Lucille Clifton better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.