The author of this poem, Lucille Clifton, was born in New York in 1936. While growing up, Clifton was taught a lot about African American heritage and traditions. She carries this aspect of her childhood into her poems a lot of times. She also touches on feminist ideals with the female body in it as well. Throughout this poem specifically, the words her and she are used 6 times. If she is referring to herself or someone else I am not sure.
Another interesting thing Clifton often speaks about is the fact that the girls in her family are born with extra fingers. Clifton had her two extra fingers amputated at a young age and refers to them as her "ghost fingers." In this poem Clifton says, "...with her extra finger whirling in a gyre of rage at what my days had come to."
This is super interesting: "Clifton had her two extra fingers amputated at a young age and refers to them as her 'ghost fingers.' In this poem Clifton says, '...with her extra finger whirling in a gyre of rage at what my days had come to.'" Are you doing this one in class as your presentation? Be sure to mention this! :)
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