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Homage to My Hips by Lucille Clifton   
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Homage to My Hips

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  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

Lucille Clifton


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  Comments about this poem (Homage to My Hips by Lucille Clifton )
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  Dom Hynes  (9/14/2009 9:30:00 PM)

Hey, Eseta O Poulivaati. This is one of my favorite poems as well. We read it in class and explicated it a bit. I was glad to hear that the poem was able to get you a good grade in your english class. I think my class enjoyed the poem as well. Take care
  Sean Taggart  (9/14/2009 9:28:00 PM)

in the poem she basically says 'this is the way i am deal with it'. she stands strong and doesn't let anyone tell her about her own body. she doesn't spend any time worrying about what other people think of her appearance. she knows that she is special for who she is and nothing can come between that. it is inspirational because its how many people feel today in society with their issues with thier bodies. it is about pride. i agree with rebecca taylor and what she says about the line where clifton says she can put a spell on a man with her hips. she says that she knows the power she has and knowing what power we have is important to ones self esteem.
  Dom Hynes  (9/14/2009 9:23:00 PM)

This poem is one of my favorites. You can tell the author (Lucile Clifton) is a proud woman who is very confident about her hips. She then explains why those hips are so important to her and that they 'require space.' I dont think this just means that she cant be in tight places. I also think she could be telling the average person to get out of her way, because she needs her space. Her hips go where they want to go, and do what they want to do. I think this is her way of showing her independence as a women. You can just tell that the author know who she is and is comfortable under her own skin
  Rebecca Taylor  (9/14/2009 9:19:00 PM)

In the poem 'Homage to my Hips', Lucille Clifton shows that she has a very positive image of her hips and her body. It's a big problem with this generation that most women feel they are constantly being judged by their appearance. Media now a days makes it hard on women to be who they are and really be proud of themselves for what God has given them. Lucille Clifton really proves with this poem that she is proud of what God has given her and is not afraid to be herself. She is not self-conscience in the least bit because she discusses in the beginning of the poem 'these hips are big hips'. She continues on to say that 'they don't fit into little petty places', meaning that she doesn't want to be associated with the people that focus on detail and the people that spend all of their time judging other people's looks.

In line 9, she states ' these hips are mighty hips' which shows that she knows they are a very powerful thing for a women to have. In lines 13 to 15, she reveals why she thinks they're so powerful by stating 'I have known them to put a spell on a man and spin him like a top! ' This statement is amazing because it shows the power that all women have on men, and that only some women have been lucky enough to master.
  Riya Riska  (4/30/2009 12:17:00 AM)

Hip..hips..
Big hips like my hips!
  Allison Bennett  (4/8/2007 7:33:00 PM)

I have to write a poetry paper connecting Homage to my Hips, Hoamge to my hair and What the Mirror Said; all by Lucille Clifton, if anyone can help me connect these poems I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!
  Jenn Murray  (9/25/2006 9:26:00 PM)

Can someone please help me out with this poem please, I have to write a paper on it and I want to make sure I fully understand it. I get the overall idea for the most part, but if someone that really understands this could help me out by posting something, that would be great. Thank you!
  Sarah Grafton  (11/1/2005 3:23:00 AM)

Homage to Her Hips

These hips are mungo hips
They yearn for terf to
gyrate in
They don't harmonize into wee
niggling zones. These hips
are footloose hips.
They don't savor to be gorked.
They have never been incommunicado,
they mosey where they wanna beat it.
They pull off where they want to give satisfaction.
These hips are steamroller hips
these hips are pizzazz.
I have noted them
to plunk a double whammy on a macho earthling
and hurl him like a frisbee.
  Eseta O Poulivaati  (8/12/2005 3:43:00 PM)

this poem has got to be my FAVORITE poem ever! ! I had used this poem for my senior year back in 2001 for my final english exam.....and Can I just say! ! this poem got me to the top of my class! ! Thank you Ms. Clifton! ! My class enjoyed your poem and so did I! !

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11/21/2009 6:56:47 AM. #.34# You Are Here: Homage to My Hips by Lucille Clifton

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