"Homage to My Hips" by Lucille Clifton

Here’s a poem by the wonderful poet Lucille Clifton (1935-2010) that never fails to make me smile.

The woman’s hips are free, and so is she. Forget about what a woman’s body is supposed to look like. Forget about diets and Vogue.

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HOMAGE TO MY HIPS

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!

Tags: #poetry

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Comment by Amanda vd Westhuizen on May 3, 2011 at 12:44am: Alicia,

I absolutely LOVE this poem. Thank you so much for posting this.

You made my day.

Amanda http://projectconnecta-gain.blogspot.com/

Comment by Octavia McBride-Ahebee on May 2, 2011 at 9:30pm: Ms. Cliffton's work is fabulous. I so adore the following poem by her:

won't you celebrate with me
by Lucille Clifton

won't you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon

both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between

starshine and clay,

my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.

Comment by Padmavani Karkera on April 29, 2011 at 10:27pm: Well, now it's done! I have will be walking around with stupid smile on my face...swinging my hips is not a good idea, the staff are watching :)
Thank you for posting this Alicia.
Cheers
Padmavani

Comment by Denise Fisher on April 29, 2011 at 11:07am: Love it! Now, if someone could write something to make me feel just as good about my thighs and backside?

Comment by Teresa Coates on April 27, 2011 at 2:59pm: I love this poem and the freedom that she proclaims to love big hips. Magic hips.

Comment by Adela Crandell Durkee on April 27, 2011 at 2:28pm: Gotta love that swing.

Comment by Cathy Kozak on April 27, 2011 at 10:03am: Delightful! Makes me feel like a free and easy wanderer rocking my hips from side to side as I go about my day.