What a fascinating question! I like your idea of the
clock. You might like to also think about the context of the poem and use that to give
you some ideas. Clearly, this poem is a memory of the adult poet looking back at his
childhood and recording a family ritual--in this case, the brushing of his mother's hair
and his father's feelings about it. You might like to think about the kind of rituals
that your parents or family has and their importance to your family life. Another thing
to consider is that the poet is depicted as an observer on what is shown to be a
curiously intimate ritual that has a lot of meaning to his parents. What visual images
might capture the way the poet is included and yet excluded from the intimacy created by
this ritual between his mother and father? In a sense, the role of the speaker in this
poem is to observe and learn from his parents. What does the speaker
learn?
Lastly, you might do well to consider the complex
relationship that the poet explores through his work with his father. Many critics argue
that Lee's poetry is an attempt to come to terms with his memory. He was a very strict,
authoritarian man, yet he could be tender as is demonstrated in this poem. How could you
capture the ambiguous character of the father
visually?
Above all, this poem reflects the way in which
even the most simplest of actions can be transformed into possessing almost mystical
significance:
She sits at the foot of the
bed.
My father watches, listens
for
the music of comb
against
hair.
Lee explores this
ritual and shows how it demonstrates the deep, profound love of his parents. What do the
rituals you are thinking of show?
Lots of questions, but I
hope they help you to think through this excellent poem! Good
luck!
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