Poems and other literary pieces contain more significant meanings than what appear on the surface.  Authors commonly place words with double-meanings and other literary devices in order to allow the reader to make connections and construct the true meaning behind the work.  By hiding the meaning of the poem behind what seems to be a completely different connotation, the author provides different paths in which readers can take to interpret the meaning behind the poem. Lucille Clifton uses a variety of figurative devices in her poem, “forgiving my father,” in order to contribute to the theme that she blames her father for her mother’s death.

The title, “forgiving my father,” implies that her father acted in such a way that hurt her, that he did something that requires her forgiveness in order to move on.  This is an interesting choice for the title; forgiveness is commonly seen as forgiving a debt, such as money or other goods, but in this instance it is meant to show Clifton moving on from her father’s actions. At first, the reader might interpret this title as Clifton forgiving her father for being incapable of providing money for her family due to all of the financial references; but after further analysis it can be seen that she believes his lack of being able to provide is the cause of her mother’s death. 

Clifton writes, “my mother’s hand opens in her early grave and i hold it out like a good daughter” (6-7).  By stating that her mother is in an early grave, implies that her mother did not live to her full potential and there was an independent cause to her death.  This introduces the idea that Lucille’s mother’s death has to do with her father’s inability to provide for her and she blames him for this, requiring her to forgive him.  Clifton references her father’s inability to support her family by saying, “you gave her all you had which was nothing” (14-15) and “i wish you were rich so i could take it all and give the lady what she was due” (10-11).  Both of these instances pertain to her father being unable to bring anything to the table, the female that is constantly being referred to is Clifton’s mother which leads the reader to believe that she may still be alive if her father was able to properly provide. 

The poem is written in the form of a note, very informal and addresses the reader as “you.”  This, in combination with the title, shows that the poem is written for her father, as he is the one that requires forgiveness, but also makes the work more personal by addressing the reader constantly throughout.  There are no capital letters used in the poem, this produces a monotonous theme throughout the piece which adds to the effect that she is angry at her father and does not care enough to provide him with proper grammar.  The words in the piece are clearly directed at the father stating, “it is friday.  we have come to the paying of the bills.  all week you have stood in my dreams like a ghost, asking for more time but today is payday” (1-5). By referring to Friday, also known as payday, and that her father has been asking for extensions, which is common with money, this makes the reader believe that the father is struggling to maintain the family financially.  Clifton repeatedly uses references to financial debt in her poem in order to relay the message that her father is in need of forgiveness and he has been overdue with his apologies.  “what am i doing here collecting?” (21) Lucille is the debt collector on behalf of her mother, attempting to collect her father’s apology for the wrongdoing of her mother.  

On the surface, the style looks simple due to the short sentences and lack of complicated vocabulary, but this style is actually very elaborate. There are meanings beyond the surface of the text and by piecing together the different clues the reader can conclude that although her father does not physically owe her mother anything, and Clifton is there to collect the metaphorical debt that he has accrued through the death of her mother.  She commonly refers to her father as “old man” (6) and” lecher” (9).  It is evident that this apology is long overdue through the choice grammar present in this poem. Clifton has clearly been waiting for her father to apologize for a long time and uses harsh words directed at him showing that she has run out of patience.  Throughout the piece she is very straightforward in conveying her opinion about her father, often repeating herself stating that time has run out for her father and she will not wait any longer.  The tone of, “forgiving my father” is accusatory in ways that it does not hold back when it comes to putting the blame on her father, Clifton doesn’t sugarcoat her opinion of her father as she continuously insults him, calling him an “old man” and telling him his time is up.  

Through using literary devices such as double-meanings behind words and unusual grammar, Lucille Clifton builds upon her common subliminal message.  By stating many times that her father is in debt to her mother through referencing payday and collecting his debt, Clifton successfully portrays a situation where under further analysis leads the reader to the conclusion that her father is responsible for her mother’s early death.  
