To be of use (Marge Piercy)

Feminist, socialist, working class Jewish writer and activist Marge Piercy is known for (among many other things) her powerful poetry fusing the personal and political, and social with environmental justice. The poem featured here, “To be of use,” metaphorically compares the people she loves to animals who work hard and persevere, such as the red, green and brown oxen which frame the words of the poem in the poster.

The first two of four stanzas read:

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.
/
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.

The poem is from CIRCLES ON THE WATER, Alfred A. Knopf, 1973, used with permission.

Pricing

Product Details

Print Type

Digital (Union Printed at RLM World Headquarters)

Poster Dimensions

11×17"

Year Created

2022

SKU p1036.
Categories , , , ,
Tags , , , , , , , , , ,

Purchase Fine Art Prints

To buy this print or many others on canvas, metal, acrylic, or as a tapestry in your choice of sizes, visit our page on Fine Art America. (Fine art prints are purchased from and shipped by Fine Art America rather than RLM Art Studio.)

Please be aware that orders containing mounted or framed posters may take an additional 7-10 days to ship. However, we can often ship much sooner. If you’re on a tight schedule, please contact us to see if we can expedite your order.

We take pride in being able to offer ready-to-hang prints of RLM’s work at reasonable prices. In addition to the options listed in the drop-down box above, we also may be able to offer custom options (such as a particular color, matting or odd size) upon request. Inquire at mailroom@rlmartstudio.com. For more information about framing, see our Web Store FAQ.

You may also like…

  • Woman Sleeping

    $14.95 - Framing Extra
  • Our Labor Creates All Wealth

    $14.95 - Framing Extra
  • Thunder of Our Solidarity – Meridel LeSueur

    $14.95 - Framing Extra