[stylist] Lucille Clifton's poem Miss Rosie

[Jennifer Applegate]

Hello all,

I pasted below Lucille Clifton's poem, "Miss Rosie." Has anyone read this
poem before? What are your thoughts/interpretation of it?

 

Miss Rosie by Lucille Clifton

when i watch you 

wrapped up like garbage 

sitting, surrounded by the smell 

of too old potato peels 

or

when i watch you 

in your old man's shoes 

with the little toe cut out 

sitting, waiting for your mind 

like next week's grocery 

i say

when i watch you

you wet brown bag of a woman 

who used to be the best looking gal in georgia

used to be called the Georgia Rose

i stand up

through your destruction

i stand up