Marge piercy to be of use. Marge Piercy 2022-11-05
Marge piercy to be of use Rating:
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"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy is a poem that celebrates the value of hard work and usefulness. The speaker in the poem asserts that it is fulfilling and satisfying to be able to use one's skills and abilities to make a difference in the world.
The speaker begins by describing people who are "of use" as those who "move stone and earth, who dig trenches" and engage in physical labor. These people are not glamorous or flashy, but they are essential to the functioning of society. They are the ones who build the infrastructure and create the resources that allow others to thrive.
However, the speaker also recognizes that there are many other ways to be of use. One can be of use through their artistic or intellectual pursuits, or through their compassion and care for others. The speaker notes that those who are "of use" are not necessarily the ones who are "seen and admired," but rather the ones who are "indispensable" and make a real difference in the world.
The speaker concludes by stating that it is a privilege to be of use and to have the opportunity to make a contribution. This is something that should be cherished and valued, rather than taken for granted.
Overall, "To Be of Use" is a powerful and inspiring poem that reminds us of the importance of hard work and usefulness. It encourages us to find ways to use our talents and abilities to make a positive impact on the world, regardless of whether we are recognized or celebrated for it.
To Be of Use: Poems by Marge Piercy
All of her books share a focus on women's lives. This book by Piercy has asterisks beside dozens of her poems. But the thing worth doing well done Has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident Greek amphoras for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums But you know they were made to be used. Marge Piercy has a lot of beautiful imagery. Still, for an historical view into the past, written with passion and a voice for the oppressed, this is a tremendous collection. It's feminism and a lot of other awesome ideologies from a different time but rings very true and is necessary and important today. But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
There are some really amazing poems in this book. Greek amphoras for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums but you know they were made to be used. The work of the world is common as mud. It's feminism and a lot of other awesome ideologies from a different time but rings very true and is necessary and important today. William Gibson has credited Woman on the Edge of Time as the birthplace of Cyberpunk. While "Barbie Doll" is probably the most memorable of the poems in this anthology, there are others that evoke Piercy's contribution to the feminist canon.
The first-person account in Gone To Soldiers is the diary of French teenager Jacqueline Levy-Monot, who is also followed in a third-person account after her capture by the Nazis. Other of her novels, such as Summer People and The Longings of Women are set during the modern day. This relationship is real; both people have real emotions, messy ones at that. I'll use some of this in church, I hope. Piercy proves that modern poetry can be both passionate and perceptive, well-structured and inventive.
Winning a Hopwood Award for Poetry and Fiction 1957 enabled her to finish college and spend some time in France, and her formal schooling ended with an M. Her World War II historical novel, Gone To Soldiers 1987 follows the lives of nine major characters in the United States, Europe and Asia. Am going to read again and see if I still feel the same way. They divorced when Piercy was 23. The collection strikes me as easily being Piercy's best, and while it is out of print, used copies aren't all that difficult to find.
I always mark favorites in my books of poetry and anthologies. Here is an excerpt from the poem "The Eight of Swords" "Despair is the worst betrayal, the coldest seduction: to believe at last that the enemy will prevail. She lives in Wellfleet on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with her husband, Ira Wood. All of her books share a focus on women's lives. Marge Piercy has a lot of beautiful imagery. The second half became super political, in a sort of beat you over the head with a copy of "Das Kapital" way, and the imagery wasn't as effective. Marge Piercy is an American poet, novelist, and social activist.
They seem to become natives of that element, the black sleek heads of seals bouncing like half-submerged balls. Other of her novels, such as Summer People and The Longings of Women are set during the modern day. Conceptualized and directed by Tamika Miller, with animation and design by Margaret To. The poem speaks to those who tirelessly, "without dallying," get up everyday and just do the work that needs to be done - over and over again. The first-person account in Gone to Soldiers is the diary of French teenager Jacqueline Levy-Monot, who is also followed in the third person after her capture by the Nazis. The poem speaks to those who tirelessly, "without dallyi. I remember that at the reception afterwards she stayed in the hallway because she was allergic to cigarette smoke - not a problem she'd have today.
Woman on the Edge of Time 1976 mixes a time travel story with issues of social justice, feminism, and the treatment of the mentally ill. First, that nothing has really changed for the better - in many ways we are worse off than when she wrote these poems. Piercy's words feel like short, powerful jabs to activate the soul to act. This relationship is real; both people have real emotions, messy ones at that. She was the first in her family to attend college, studying at the University of Michigan.
I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience, who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, who do what has to be done, again and again. I opened this anthology knowing only that "Barbie Doll" debuted in it. But there is also plenty of uplifting, insightful, and garden-related poems too. Also, sometimes seems to be caught up in cleverness of her own writing. Second, that there really seems to be no way to sustain progressive protest against capitalist corruption I know, redundant. The second half became super political, in a sort of beat you over the head with a copy of "Das Kapital" way, and the imagery wasn't as effective.
There is finally a bone in the heart that does not break When we remember we are still part of each other, the muscle of hope that goes on in the dark pumping the blood that feeds us. More in-your-face political than the earth-mama 'The Moon is Always Female', I particularly liked the last cycle of 11 poems, grouped as a tarot reading. . But I Not familiar with too much poetry, but my first impression is that wow, Marge Piercy is so different from Mary Oliver. I like the idea of the last section, the tarot card format, but the end result was lacking.
. Her novels and poetry often focus on feminist or social concerns, although her settings vary. People who have read my reviews probably tire of my tribute to my mother, without whom I probably never would have been able to get my hands on this book. I'll use some of this in church, I hope. I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, Who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience, Who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, Who do what has to be done, again and again.
