
Everyday millions of words are spoken, defined, and read. Each word should have a concrete meaning but of course that is not how it works. Depending on what surrounds the word it can change the meaning. In Lucille Clifton’s, “forgiving my father,” the word open is repeated throughout the poem. In some cases, it is used as its typical definition, but there is a deeper meaning. Like everything in life there are judgements and opinions made, just like when the word “open” appears in this poem. The daughter is forced to decide to forgive her father. As the poem continues it is proven over and over again that the father will not be forgiven for what he has done. Throughout the whole poem there are no capitalizations. Because of this it helps show the immaturity of the daughter along with a feeling of something being out of place. Using the word “open” Clifton sways your emotions with how the daughter is feeling, from wanting to forgive but can’t and never will.

In paragraph one the speaker states, “my mother’s hand opens in her early grave” (Clifton). When this is first read, “open” can be taken as being unfolded or to unfold but that isn’t what Lucille Clifton is trying to portray. If a mother’s hand is being opened in her early grave, then the mother is being hurt or isn’t living a fulfilled life. The hand opening is representing a pathway being given to the daughter. There are troubles within the family caused by a lack of money. Having something open up or given isn’t always what is expected in this family. Whether it be money or a new path of life for the daughter. Without the mother in the daughter’s life the father no longer has to provide for the mother, which gives a new life for the daughter. The mothers hand unfolding is so much more than what is seen with the first read. The mothers hand is opening, allowing the reader to view what is inside but the mothers hand opening is also giving a new way of life and choice for the daughter.

In the final paragraph, Lucille Clifton used “open” to convey the feeling of hope and a desire for change. At this point the speaker is angry and frustrated with the father, “you are the pocket that was going to open” (Clifton). When the word open is used normally a positive outlook comes with it. As humans when something is given to us it is normally seen as something good, so when something opens its being received and gifts given are always wanted. So when the daughter states that the father is “the pocket that was going to open” (Clifton), she wants there to be a feeling of hope, a wish that the father could give what was wanted. “Open” here would literally mean to move, to allow access and a visual. The daughter is longing and wanting for change within the family. She wants the father to open his pockets and have something that will fix their problems. But when he opens his pockets, its empty. Nothing good was going to come out of the pocket. Change isn’t going to happen.

In the final sentence of the poem the speaker says, “and no accounting will open them up.” Open means to unfold or to allow access to what is inside. Here the speaker is saying that an accountant will not be opening the debtors’ boxes because nothing is inside. Nothing is there to be given. Opening something seems like a gift but in this case it’s not a good gift, a gift of emptiness and debt. The speaker wants them to be opened or looked at but it won’t happen. Using the word “open” creates an even greater feeling of disappointment. Disappointed not only with being poor but having a father like this one. “Open” is used in the literal sense of being showed or a new pathway made for visual. As found in other parts of the poem “open” is not fully used to its literal sense. Using it literally gives a blunt and harsh feel to the ending of the poem. 

From the beginning the poem goes on using the word open turning it from positive to negative. “my mother’s hand opens in her early grave, and I hold it out like a good daughter.” The mother’s hands opening is a gift or something positive being given to the daughter. “you are the pocket that was going to open, and come up empty any Friday” (Clifton). These lines portray a lot of anger and resentfulness to the father for not having money. It is not looked upon in a good way to open your pockets and have nothing. Being poor not only hurts the family financially but emotionally and physically. “you lie side by side in the debtors’ boxes, and no accounting will open them up” (Clifton). The boxes will never be able to be open because they will always be poor. The daughter won’t ever be able to forgive her father. Repeating the word open represents the daughter trying to accept and open her heart to her father. Because the speaker turns the positive correlation with the word negative, it shows that nothing is going to change and it won’t be opened. 

With only three uses of “open” the tone, meaning, and feeling of the poem changed throughout the poem. From a pathway to a new life to the literal sense of being unfolded and able to view what is on the inside. Like many things in life the meaning changes, but she was not able to forgive her father. The meaning changed based on the context. What surrounded the word made it portray a whole new feeling to the reader. In life people can change and act a different way based on who is around them at the time. Whether this is positive or negative it doesn’t matter but in the sense of this poem, an excellent thing. Watching the shift from positive to negative as the poem went on changed my emotions for the father. Using the different meanings and symbols connected with “open” helped the reader understand why the daughter was trying to forgive her father but couldn’t. Throughout life things will change but whether or not one will decide to accept it or not it is up to them. 
