#1.
Is there any possible connection between what the poem is saying about the fixed cycle of pregnancy and its form-the nine syllables and nine lines? (Metaphors)
–> There is a possible connection between the fixed cycle of pregnancy and its form. The nine syllables and nine lines suggest the nine-month of gestation.
#2.
Is it possible that the poet has another type of gestation in mind, besides the literal one (e.g., the gestation of a poem or novel)? (Metaphors)
–> First of all, the poem can be interpreted literally. It describes the gestation of the speaker. She is carrying a child inside her body before birth. It is also possible that the poet has another type of gestation in her mind.
On a higher level of abstraction, gestation itself can be seen as a metaphor for another product – poems and other creative works. It describes the time of development of a thought or an idea before it is made known by writing. A piece of art is also a riddle before it is created.
