wishes for sons

The title of Lucille Clifton’s poem, “wishes for sons,” evokes a sense of positivity when it is divorced from the content of the poem. The verb “to wish” typically has positive connotations, like wishing on birthday candles or a shooting star. However, Line 1 immediately subverts the initial positive connotations of the title as the speaker wishes “cramps” (Line 1), a symptom of physical pain, onto the “sons” the poem is directed towards. Clifton wishes the burdens of bourgeoning womanhood onto sons, young boys that will grow up to be men, in an attempt to foster mutual understanding of the female experience from an early age, therefore creating a more equitable society for children to grow up in (see: Themes).

Stanza 1 details the abrupt end of girlhood as marked by the menstrual cycle. The speaker wishes sons “cramps” (Line 1), “the last tampon” (Line 3), and “strange” surroundings (Line 2) when their period arrives, exemplifying the physical and mental discomfort women and people who menstruate experience as the result of an unexpected period. Clifton’s lines are concise, but her details are specific. “Cramps” (Line 1) indicate the onset of a period. There is an urgency brought on by the fact that there is only one remaining tampon and no convenience store nearby to purchase more (Lines 3, 4).