...are starting to get on my nerves. I mean belt something out for heaven's sake. Sing with some feeling. I came to this realization the other day when we were cleaning house listening to a Pandora mix that would occasionally throw something like that out. I started to get really irritated every time I heard a woman sing with some soft, breathy, whiny voice.
Which brings me to my poem and poet today.
Marge Piercy.
If she were a musician she would NOT sing with a soft voice. Girlfriend has got some lungs, literarily speaking. I am just getting to know contemporary poets, so if anyone would like to jump in and correct anything I say, feel free. Marge has a strong voice for feminism as you will very clearly experience here. Like most poets I read, I don't love everything she's written, but this poem has really left an impression on me.
When I read this poem to my husband, he said that he thought she was dark and broody. I took this more as a hyperbolic cautionary tale about how we as a society look at women. For me personally it's about raising daughters with healthy self-awareness.
It does have a way of making one a little uncomfortable, I admit.
But, I don't think that that's a bad thing necessarily. If we were never uncomfortable we would have never got off the floor and started to walk.
Barbie Doll
I'm curious about what you think? Do you love it? Hate it? What message do you get from it? Post a comment and let me know how this poem affects you? Or does it?
Which brings me to my poem and poet today.
Marge Piercy.
If she were a musician she would NOT sing with a soft voice. Girlfriend has got some lungs, literarily speaking. I am just getting to know contemporary poets, so if anyone would like to jump in and correct anything I say, feel free. Marge has a strong voice for feminism as you will very clearly experience here. Like most poets I read, I don't love everything she's written, but this poem has really left an impression on me.
When I read this poem to my husband, he said that he thought she was dark and broody. I took this more as a hyperbolic cautionary tale about how we as a society look at women. For me personally it's about raising daughters with healthy self-awareness.
It does have a way of making one a little uncomfortable, I admit.
But, I don't think that that's a bad thing necessarily. If we were never uncomfortable we would have never got off the floor and started to walk.
Barbie Doll
This girlchild was born as usual
and presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.
Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:
You have a great big nose and fat legs.
She was healthy, tested intelligent,
possessed strong arms and back,
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.
She went to and fro apologizing.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.
She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up.
In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending.
and presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.
Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:
You have a great big nose and fat legs.
She was healthy, tested intelligent,
possessed strong arms and back,
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.
She went to and fro apologizing.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.
She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up.
In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending.
I'm curious about what you think? Do you love it? Hate it? What message do you get from it? Post a comment and let me know how this poem affects you? Or does it?
I'm so over the Ingrid Michaelson sound too! It was fine for what it was, but now it isn't quaint and different but trendy and everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI abhore plastic surgery on people who don't need it for health reasons and such, so I enjoyed this. It has a message --however brought on strong-- of loving yourself and not conforming to what others think you should be while abandoning who and what you are and look like.
No wonder she was a feminist who hated barbie, she was a woofer!!!! I'd write poetry about how lame men are to, because they couldn't stand to look at her. Barf-o-rama!
ReplyDeleteSome haven't given credence to her early work and diary. The material from which were used to write the zany comic strip Cathy.
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Some one please ask me out on a date.
I want to eat Pie.
-- husband of hottie
I think it is too bad that society puts so much emphasis on appearance, and this poem portrays a persons frustration and extreme actions to try and conform. Sad really.
ReplyDeletethanks for your comments. I think we (those of us that commented) can all agree that its daunting to raise young girls with self-esteems that are intact when there are countless billboards with taglines like, "Make your inner beauty jealous". I think all we can do is continue to teach our own kids and try to get the word out.
ReplyDeleteHi Morinda! It's Rachel, the other Wasatch mom. I have to tell you that I actually ADORE so many of Marge Piercy's poems. Have for YEARS....in fact, one of my first real awakenings to poetry happened with her poem "Night Fight." I read it my junior year in high school and appreciated her seething hatred/humor all rolled into one. Some of my other faves of hers: "To Be of Use," "Eat Fruit," "Something to Look Forward To".....so many gems. LOVE her voice.
ReplyDeleteThis is as far as I've gotten on your blog, so I better not start recommending my favorite contemporary poets, since you very well may have already read them. BUT contemporary is my fave time period, and poetry is my genre, so I'm excited to read more of your faves.
Thanks Rachel! I love your input. I've just never put a lot of time into contemporary poetry, where I have spent lots of time in other time periods. I will definitely be looking into those pieces. I just recently signed up for the Poetry Foundation Journal (I think its a quarterly). Anyway, I am super excited to start getting it. I'm planning on making an Allen Ginsberg post soon, but I can't decide which one to use. There are so many good ones. I also want to keep the poetry on this blog accessible so that people don't have to be a full-fledged product of academia to enjoy it, so that is always in the back of my mind when I'm choosing.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thank you much darlin'. I look forward to your feedback in the future. I think in my mind I am hoping that someday this could be a forum for feedback and people's responses (emotional, intellectual and otherwise) to the poetry. And someday...maybe someday...I just might post something of my own.