Olds's poem delves into a marriage and its impact on the couple's child. Write a poem about your own parents. If expressing your feelings about your parents is challenging, consider writing a poem that examines the parent-child relationship, either in its ideal form or based on what you've seen in other families.

Investigate the divorce rate in the United States over the past two decades. Is there an upward trend, or has it remained stable? If there has been a change, what factors might have contributed to this shift?

Poetry should evoke vivid images in the reader's mind. Create a drawing or illustration of one of the images that her poem conjures.

Artists frequently find inspiration in poetry. For example, William Blake was inspired by John Milton's poetry to create illustrations of his most celebrated works. Spend time browsing art books in the library and choose a picture or illustration that you believe best represents Olds's poem. Then, write a well-crafted essay comparing the art you've chosen to Olds's poem, highlighting both similarities and differences.

Olds's poem was written in the early 1980s. Research and discuss the economic conditions of single-parent households during this time. Consider the types of jobs available to divorced mothers and the challenges single families faced in managing on a single income.