What theme does Lucille Clifton present in her poem "Miss Rosie?"

The time and
circumstance are volatile in nature. The change of fortune and the old age shouldn't deprive one
of his or her deserved regard and honor. Miss Rosie or Georgia Rose, as she was called when she
was young, must have been popular and admired in the prime of her life. But, in her old age,
shes turned into a wretched and neglected old woman.

The three-worded clause
I stand up, repeated twice, encapsulates the main theme of the poem. Its about paying respect
and homage to a lady who has shrunk into an insignificant and ugly-looking old woman.

By repeating I stand up, the poet honors an old woman whos a representative of every
old person who once really mattered, and so was respected and cared for in his or her best
years.

With age, Miss Rosie has grown infirm and physically unattractive. She
is of no worth to the society and the people around her. To them, shes just a "wet brown
bag, and one whos wrapped up like garbage.

In her unique manner, the
poetcondemns the neglect of old people, who ought to be looked after and cared for, by
standing up for them through their
"destruction."