
“forgiving my father” written by Lucille Clifton follows her trademark style of being simple and direct. While it may seem bland at first glance, reoccurring errors bring up a plethora of interesting thoughts of what really developed in the duration of this poem. Clifton’s poem formatting choices allow us to peek into the relationship shared by Clifton with her father and her choice of symbolism exhibits his lack of financial assistance. 

Clifton is addressing her father throughout the poem. The words are directed towards him and it is clear that these words are not very kind. One of Clifton’s biggest lashes out towards her father is, “but you were the son of a needy father, / the father of a needy son; / you gave her all you had / which was nothing (525)”. Clifton has taken a very obvious stance here and is opposing her father. Her anger is on full display, but one interesting thing Clifton has done in her poem is to choose to neglect using any capital letters. This comes across as childish, the lack of capitalizing letters is something a younger child would do. Another thing young children tend to do, when angry, is to let out their feelings but they do not control the situation. Clifton’s poem gives off the feeling that she is an angry child, her lack of capitalization show that while expressing her anger, she cannot take full charge. She resorts to calling her father names, even referring to him as daddy on several occasions. Once again, as a child would. The title itself is another clue to support this claim, Clifton says in the title she is forgiving, but nowhere in the poem does it seem that way. The explanation is once again looking at the poem as if from a child’s perspective, she got her feelings out, she expressed herself, she did what she could and now she can feel relief, now she can forgive and move on. This also keeps with her theme of being simple and direct. What is simpler or more direct than a child and their feelings? No further questions need to be asked on how she feels about her father. One other clue to show that Clifton comes across as an angry child is the constant mentioning of finances. She looked for him to pay, to have supported her and is still looking for him to provide something.

Her father’s financial bearing is not shied from in Clifton’s poem. Clifton goes as far as saying, “you are the pocket that was going to open / and come up empty any friday (526)”. This provides a very clear picture that he did not financially support Clifton, or her mom for that matter, the way that she believed he should have. This appears to be the root of her problems with her father, going off the text. Her father never had the money to pay what he needed to pay, whenever it was needed for him to pay, he had nothing. Being around this sort of incompetent behavior frustrated Clifton dearly. She states, “i wish you were rich so i could take it all / and give the lady what she was due (525)”. This is a powerful statement to publish. This shows clear animosity towards her father and it shows that she felt her mother was not repaid by him. To Clifton, this is just another shortcoming of her father, another failure for himself.

Clifton’s writing is simple and direct, but so is her symbolism. She extensively uses the bank and bank terminology throughout her work. In fact, it is the only symbolistic element given. Doing this has created a major focal point, a huge spotlight on the problem at hand. It is very cut and dry, similar to how banks and Clifton are viewed. It gets to the point and is efficient in its message, quite unlike her father, as portrayed. The bank symbolism is also one everybody can relate to and understand. The average person uses a bank and understands the simple terminology used. Clifton in using this, has allowed most readers a form of connection and understanding of just how little her father gave. Earlier in the poem she compares her father to a ghost and towards the end of the poem she uses the word choice, “you lie side by side in debtor’s boxes (526)”. Her choice of words and symbolism show that her father died still owing, still never able to pay what he needed to. 

Clifton’s title under first impression comes across as odd. “forgiving my father” is what she titled her poem, but she never once says that she does. Looking back at it from a child’s perspective we could go back to the claim that she released her anger and is ready to move on. With Clifton’s work however, not everything is what it seems. The tone of the work takes a shift with, “you have already given her all / you had (525)”. It seems more mature at this point, more adult like. It was here that Clifton seems to have come to some sort of terms in regards to her father. As if she accepted that he will never be what she wanted. Here she seems ready to move on, but not until after she delivers a few more lines discussing her father. Clifton ends the poem mentioning being laid in boxes that no one will open up. Looking back to her previous remark about her father being a ghost, we can infer that her father has passed away. Her ending on him being buried, resembles that of burying the hatchet. That now, after expressing herself, she can finally give him some forgiveness. 

Clifton’s choices of formatting and symbolism provide us with information needed to help us see her relationship with her father, along with his financial shortcomings. Clifton is lashing out in anger to the pain and suffering her father has dealt her. She has gone on to a public stage to share and express herself. In the end, it feels as if her release of emotions will allow her to forgive her father to an extent. She left a lot of resentment in her closing lines, too much to comfortably feel that she has truly forgiven her father.
