Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- How does focusing on hips become important? Would the poem be different if it were about arms or eyes? How so?
- Why do you think that Clifton chose to make the poem about "my" hips (as opposed to "these" hips or just hips in general)? How does that choice affect your reading of the poem?
- Do you think the speaker is young or old?
- How does the last sentence change the direction of the poem?