Sound and Sense #209 Good Times - Lucille Clifton

This poem is rather simple, but has an important message. The speaker comes across as an older person, most likely a woman, who has perhaps lived through some tough times. These rough times however, make the simple, ordinary times appear to be that much better in comparison. It is these good times that should be remembered, which the speaker advises children as she looks back at her life, for perhaps she is lying on her death bed.

Because the speaker is an older person, it gives the poem a little more meaning. Coming from someone elderly, the poem has more truth, more validity - an 85 year old woman has the necessary experience, knowledge, and wisdom (that a 35 year old does not) to be making these suggestions on how to look at one's life.

The syntax of this poem suggests that the speaker is not very educated, for only names are capitalized, there is no sentence structure, no punctuation, etc. This literary device layers another meaning onto the poem, suggesting that good times are not restricted to the wealthy, privileged individuals who have higher educations, and whose "good times" are more extravagant than others' may be. "Good times" are the simple times, the pleasant, true times that make one happy.
The fact that only the names are capitalized may also point out that these people, all members of the family, are around during each of these happy memories. This may imply that "good times" are those spent with family.

Repetition is the most obvious aspect of the poem, for "good times" is repeated seven times throughout this 18-line poem. It is repeated for a simple reason, too - to emphasize the fact that the good times are those that should be thought of often and kept in our memories forever. Not bad times, tough times, confusing times, prideful times, or any other kind of times - no, just the good times.