D. a person is deciding whether to greet someone with an open hand or a clenched fist.
Explanation:
This question addresses the difference between "figuratively" and "literally." When we describe something "figuratively," we use metaphors, figures of speech and symbolism in order to describe something. Therefore, we are not conveying the <em>exact</em> meaning of what we want to say. On the other hand, when we speak "literally," we state exactly what it is that we want to say, with no metaphorical or symbolic meaning. In this case, if we describe what is <u>literally</u> happening in the poem, we see that a person talks about greeting someone with an open hand or with a clenched fist. However, this might convey a different meaning if read figuratively.