Racism
Lorde identifies strongly with her black heritage. Much of her poetry combats latent racial discrimination within American society. To the best of her ability, she dispels the myths about black culture which continue to threaten black communities today. In their place, she communicates a more accurate narrative of African Americans in the country, based upon her own experiences and observations.
Sexuality
Lorde's most controversial works are her lesbian poems. She was extremely proud of her sexual identity, encouraging others to feel the same regardless of how they identify. In erotic detail, she writes about her romantic pursuits, her sexual desires, and other LGBTQ people she has known. Her writing is frank and romantic. She wants readers to relate to the emotional complexities of being in a relationship, regardless of whether they are straight or gay or queer or something else.
Nature
As with most poetry, nature is a common theme with Lorde's. She uses it to depict a great variety of emotions and time periods. In many of her poems, she depicts the complexities of her characters' experiences through illusions to the seasons or plants or even animals.
Childhood
Lorde's upbringing has a profound influence on her writing. In "Father Son and Holy Ghost" she addresses the very painful topics of her parents' deaths, specifically her father's. She doesn't shy away from showing her readers an intimate glimpse into her mind and her history. In a sweet and respectful way, she explains how she grew up viewing the world as a little black girl and why she often longs for those days again.
