An Analysis Of Clifton's Poem She Is Dreaming

Clifton’s continued use of allusion, repetition, tone, and diction and their ability to work in conjunction with one another highlight differences in female anatomy structuring the female experience as different from that of a male. The ability of these literary devices to complement one another in the poem is how Clifton also demonstrates that the physical differences in the female experience are also reflected in the emotional experiences as Clifton calls for greater rapport and understanding between the two genders, despite the differences in their experiences.

“she is dreaming” The seventeen-line, free-verse poem, “she is dreaming,” was originally published in Clifton’s book, an ordinary woman. The poem features Clifton’s commentary on

To the poet, the world of women, at times, feels surreal due to the possibilities as to how the female body changes. To convey this, Clifton utilizes complementary literary devices to explore the female anatomy being the source of the shared fears among women. Clifton utilizes repetition and imagery to establish the fears stemming from the changes within the female body as being a part of the female experience. Throughout the poem, the repetition of the phrase “will it” reinforces the idea found within the title, that womanhood at times feels like somewhat of a dream (Clifton 162). Comparing the entirety of womanhood to that of a surreal dream filled with endless possibilities is in reference to the many “blood-related” things a woman may experience that bear unknown outcomes: menstruation, defloration, parturition (Clifton 162). Each time the phrase is utilized to present one of the many “fears of the flesh” a woman may hold, it is followed by a harsh imagery of the experiences that flesh may bear (Clifton 162). The imagery of flesh being open or closed, and being scarred or left bleeding is how Clifton highlights that this fear is a result of the shared physical experiences that become a part of the “whole world womanhood (Clifton 162).” Then, there is an emphasis on the bloody imagery of the flesh living or dying with the phrase, “will it