Essay Questions

How does Forman promote body positivity in her poetry?

Body positivity is a key theme of Ruth Forman's poetry. For example, her poem "These hips" celebrates a more curvaceous body type, that is often not celebrated in the media. She describes her hips as being "ripe plums" and "midnight moons," which therefore paints them in a positive light.

How does Forman describe poetry in the poem "Should Ride the Bus?"

In this poem, Forman personifies poetry, using imagery to describe what it should be like. For example, she describes how "poetry should hopscotch in a polka dot dress, wheel cartwheels n hold your hand." In another passage, she says that poetry should "wear bright red lipstick n practice kisses in the mirror for all the fine young men with fades."

What does Forman conclude in the poem "Stand?"

In "Stand," Forman metaphorically compares fighting injustices to standing up and compares doing nothing to sitting down. She asks her readers why they are so afraid to stand up for what they believe in, guessing that it is because they are afraid to be told by others to sit down. However, she concludes with the following passage:

"but here is the truth
someone will always tell you
sit down."