"Song at Midnight"

by Lucille Clifton
Unsettling America, p. 11

Reader: Dianna Ruiz

Respondent: Dennis Clifford

24 September 2001

An excerpt from Lucille Clifton’s biography on her relationship with her four daughters: "We talk a lot, these four women and I, but then we always did. They grew up hearing stories I heard from mama and aunts and the old mothers of the church. It was, it is, the way we have continued in this country, passing on our own and the wider history and culture of America. Not just of Black America, of all of it, so that we know what life was like among Black people as well as white ones during slavery time because we heard and overheard the tales of Ole Miz and what happened when. It has been, it is, our strength, this talking and listening, because we have traditionally shared not only the outward cold and definite facts, but also the inward feeling and meaning of things."

Creative Writing Fellowships, National Endowment for Arts 1970 & 1973

Poet Laureate of the state of Maryland 1979

Taught literature and creative writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz 1985

Professor of Humanities at St. Mary’s College of Maryland 1991 – present

"Clifton’s early poems are celebrations of African American ancestry, heritage, and culture. Her early publications praise African Americans for their historic resistance to oppression and their survival of economic and political racism. Poems reflect both Clifton’s ethnic pride and her feminist principles, and integrate her race and gender consciousness." Jocelyn K. Moody

• Objective 6a: With the use of the word brothers in the poem, Clifton relates to the minority community, the extended family, and touches on the need for group solidarity and support (insight from Dr. White). Also, Clifton relates to the minority group of women.

[Style] How does the idea of the poem benefit from being written as a poem rather than in prose? The poem creatively evokes thoughts and emotions by tapping into our senses. It is densely packed with images and meaning. "Song at Midnight" is lyrical. There is an outpour of emotions as Clifton expresses concern, hope, and wonder. Clifton’s reference to "brothers" shows she is speaking to the African American community.

Considering the line "in the folds of her flesh", why do you think Lucille followed "her hair is white with wonderful" rather than "she is rounder than the moon"? (My response) I feel the emphasis is not solely about weight, though weight is relevant. "Sweetness in the folds of her flesh" could refer to the pregnancy. While reading the poem, I pictured the Venus of Willendorf, which is a symbol of female fecundity. Age has not been mentioned yet, so the poem could be discussing the different phases of womanhood.

What do you think Clifton is talking about in the line "her hair is white with wonderful"? (My response) To me, the line refers to beauty of maturing, comfort in aging, and the gaining of wisdom. Mentioning the color white prepares the reader for the image of the moon in the next line. Clifton gives personification to the moon by saying the moon can be faithful or unfaithful. (Class response) Clifton is relating to the aging process. Karen in class said that the moon is the light for younger people as they go through phases. In the line "rounder than the moon and far more faithful", Dr. White referred to Romeo and Juliet. Juliet’s words suggest the moon is unfaithful: (Romeo) Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--. (Juliet) O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circle orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Who is Clifton talking to when she questions "who will hold her who, who will find her beautiful if you do not?" (Class response) She is directing the questions to the African American community with the use of "brothers". Clifton seems to address the question if (black) women are not appreciated within the Black community, how will others learn to appreciate (black) women.

Why did Clifton include the line "do not send me out among strangers" at the beginning of the poem? (My response) Clifton is referring to "Poem at Thirty" by Sonia Sanchez. The line from that poem reads: "I wrapped my bones in lint and refused to move, no one touches me any more, father do not send me out among strangers." Virginia Hiltz from Women Writers of the BAM, said: "the poem deals with love, the relationship between a Black man and woman, which also shows the strength of Black woman in helping the Black man".

• Karen said the poem reminded her of a big family. She said the poem talked a lot about the size of the woman's body, which led to by the line about the moon.

• Dennis (respondent) referred to objective 4b and said that American Racism was evident in the emphasis on separateness. Meaning that she saw her self as separate because she thought that black men (brothers) were the only option for love. No hybridity or mixing alternatives, see object 4b.

• For me, "Song at Midnight" leaves the impression that Clifton speaks of (black) women unappreciated by her minority community. I referred to an example in Baby of the Family: "There were times when Lena hated the idea of having to grow into an adult woman on whose shoulders so much work seemed to fall (p. 153)." In the poem "Song at Midnight" the woman lost her youth, yet she is still valuable. In the old age, women fade into the night of life, but at midnight, the moon is at its brightest, she is at her brightest.