wishes for sons

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1987

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Symbols & Motifs

The Last Tampon

The “last tampon” (Line 3) symbolizes the inconvenience of the monthly, though oftentimes completely unpredictable, menstrual cycle. The word “last” (Line 3) has a finality to it, and when used to describe a “tampon” (Line 3), a practical product necessary for absorbing menstrual blood, Clifton adds an urgency to the poem. By wishing sons “the last tampon” (Line 3) and “no 7-11” (Line 4), the speaker reveals the psychological stress women and people who menstruate endure on top of the physical pain caused by their period. The symbol of the tampon adds nuance to the experience of menstruation, exposing the multiple levels of preparedness necessary for monthly bloodshed.

The White Skirt

The “white skirt” (Line 6) is a multifaceted symbol, representing the shame and stigma that the patriarchy has attached to menstruation. Historically, the female body has been scrutinized and objectified on a public and personal level. Women are taught from an early age to hide their periods. Periods are seen as dirty and shameful despite the fact that over half of the population experiences them on a monthly basis. The “white skirt” (Line 6) in Clifton’s “wishes for sons” makes this secret shame visible. The speaker wishes boys “one week early / and wearing a white skirt” (Lines 5-6), shocked by an early period staining a crisp, white article of clothing. Suddenly, something so internal and personal such as a period can be seen externally, fodder for judgement from the outside world. Clifton uses the symbol of the skirt to show that shame and embarrassment, while not physical pain, are just as harmful to people who menstruate, asking men to be understanding of this pain, whether that be visible or invisible to the eye.

The Gynecologist

“wishes for sons” leads readers to the final image of a gynecologist, described as “not unlike” (Line 18) the sons, apathetic to the experiences of women. The gynecologist symbolizes male privilege, holding power over people who experience this pain, asserting with “arrogance” (Line 16) that they know better than the people in the bleeding bodies. Clifton alludes to the legacy of medical experimentation and discriminatory healthcare practices that have affected women, specifically African American women, since the dawn of gynecological practices (see: Further Reading & Resources), injecting the end of the poem with a fear that is palpable. The speaker asserts that until men know this fear of pain and being unheard in the healthcare system, they will not truly know what it is like to be a woman.