What the mirror said (makeup for 3/13)

Lucille Clifton was an American writer and educator from Buffalo, New York. Her most common topics of poetry include the celebration of African American heritage and feminist themes with an emphasis on the female body. This poem is a perfect example of Clifton's common theme, the female body. Clifton is addressing her image in the mirror and does so with the reoccurring "you." It is a sort of self analysis of what she views her body as, and how she wants it to be portrayed to others. "listen you a wonder. you a city of a women. you got a geography of your own." This statement shows the uniqueness Clifton feels towards her body and her pride in it. It's her own and no one can take that away from her. In order for another to understand it, "somebody need directions to move around you." This also shows the power she feels in her own body.