From The Terrible Stories (1996), "one year later" Summary

This poem takes place a year from the previous one, according to the title. It is a meditation on what might have happened if the fox had actually entered the room and extended an invitation, holding out her paw. If the poet follows her, what will happen? The poem ends with the question of how it will affect everything, including "the poetry of regret."

From The Terrible Stories (1996), "one year later" Analysis

From this poem, the reader knows that the writer somehow chose not to follow the fox. Whatever the animal symbolizes, whether it is the call of the creative process, the call to love, or some other unknown symbol, Clifton does not follow. After a whole year, she wonders what will have happened if she did...