WRITING ABOUT POEMS

Writing About Poems

Forgiving My Father ' is an example of a lyrical poem . Written by Lucille Clifton , its lines contain the poet 's recriminations against her father (Schilb Clifford 253 . A lyrical poem relays the poet 's true feelings and thoughts regarding anything that he chooses to write about (Campa , AuthorStream .com . In this case , Clifton has written about how her father had failed to give her , her siblings and her mother the kind of life that was better than what they lived . The overall tone of the lines of a lyrical poem

and the choice of words therein would all depend on the poet 's purpose for writing it (Encyclopedia Britannica ,

. 181 This specific poem , Forgiving My Father ' uses some disrespectful lines to describe the author 's father at the same time , the poem contains no loving words and no grateful words , either , for the author 's father

Poets would have to synchronize their specific moods and feelings at the time of writing their pieces with their respective purposes for them (Encyclopedia Britannica ,

. 181 . In the case of Clifton 's Forgiving My Father ' the lines dwell on a sad and the words therein such as empty , pauper , and debtors ' boxes ' all paint a sad picture . Lucille Clifton used unsavory words such as lecher ' and liar ' to describe her father , which only served to bolster the glum - and a bit bitter - tone of the poem

Lyrical poems reveal the poet behind its lines . The poem Forgiving My...