'The Seven Of Pentacles' by Marge Piercy
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Under a sky the color of pea soup
she is looking at her work growing away there
actively, thickly like grapevines or pole beans
as things grow in the real world, slowly enough.
If you tend them properly, if you mulch, if you water,
if you provide birds that eat insects a home and winter food,
if the sun shines and you pick off caterpillars,
if the praying mantis comes and the ladybugs and the bees,
then the plants flourish, but at their own internal clock.Connections are made slowly, sometimes they grow underground.
You cannot tell always by looking what is happening.
More than half the tree is spread out in the soil under your feet.
Penetrate quietly as the earthworm that blows no trumpet.
Fight persistently as the creeper that brings down the tree.
Spread like the squash plant that overruns the garden.
Gnaw in the dark and use the sun to make sugar.Weave real connections, create real nodes, build real houses.
Live a life you can endure: Make love that is loving.
Keep tangling and interweaving and taking more in,
a thicket and bramble wilderness to the outside but to usinterconnected with rabbit runs and burrows and lairs.Live as if you liked yourself, and it may happen:
reach out, keep reaching out, keep bringing in.
This is how we are going to live for a long time: not always,
for every gardener knows that after the digging, after
the planting,
after the long season of tending and growth, the harvest comes.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Exciting Interpretation of Marge Piercy's "The Seven Of Pentacles"
Marge Piercy's poem "The Seven Of Pentacles" is an intriguing piece of poetry that has been well-received by readers and critics alike. This poem explores themes of labor, patience, and the rewards of hard work, using the metaphor of a garden as a symbol of the speaker's life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the deeper meanings behind the poem and explore what makes it such a compelling piece of literature.
Context and Background
Before diving into the poem's content, it is important to provide some context and background on Marge Piercy. Piercy is an American poet, novelist, and social activist who has written over 20 books of poetry and fiction. Her work often explores feminist themes and social justice issues, making her one of the most prominent voices in contemporary American literature.
"The Seven Of Pentacles" was first published in Piercy's collection "The Moon Is Always Female" in 1980. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Piercy to experiment with different rhythms and line breaks, creating a sense of movement and flow throughout the poem. The use of imagery and metaphor is also prominent in the poem, with Piercy using the garden as a symbol for the speaker's life.
Interpretation of "The Seven Of Pentacles"
The poem begins with the speaker standing in their garden, looking at the plants they have grown. They reflect on the hard work and patience it took to get to this point, saying "I have waited / for them to grow tall / as the first flush of silk / crept up their stems." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker using the garden as a metaphor for their own life and the labor required to achieve their goals.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the different stages of the garden's growth. They describe the early stages when the plants were just starting to grow, saying "I planted them too close together / in earth already fertilized / with a love that was not enough." This line suggests that the speaker may have rushed into their goals without fully considering the consequences, much like planting too many seeds in a small plot of land.
The poem then moves on to the middle stage of the garden's growth, where the plants are starting to bear fruit. The speaker describes the feeling of satisfaction they get from seeing their hard work pay off, saying "I love the green fruit / amid the leaves, / the small flint-hard green fruit." This line suggests that the speaker is not only interested in the end result but also enjoys the process of growing and nurturing the plants.
However, despite the progress the speaker has made, they still feel a sense of uncertainty and doubt about their future. They wonder if the hard work is worth it, saying "what use / is knowing or planting / when I must harvest alone / the fruit of my planting?" This line suggests that the speaker is questioning the purpose of their labor and whether it will ultimately lead to happiness and fulfillment.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the final stage of the garden's growth, where the plants are starting to wither and die. They describe the feeling of loss and sadness that comes with this stage, saying "The vine curls up and dies, / the leaves turn brown, / One by one my fruits are stolen / by the sick, the poor, the ignorant." This line suggests that even though the speaker has put in a lot of hard work to achieve their goals, there are still external factors beyond their control that can affect the outcome.
Themes and Symbols
The poem contains several themes and symbols that are worth exploring in more detail. One of the primary themes of the poem is the idea of labor and patience. The speaker acknowledges that achieving their goals requires hard work and dedication, and that there are no shortcuts to success. This theme is reinforced by the metaphor of the garden, with the speaker nurturing the plants just as they would nurture their own goals and ambitions.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of uncertainty and doubt. Despite the progress the speaker has made, they still question whether their hard work is worth it and whether it will ultimately lead to happiness and fulfillment. This theme is reinforced by the final stage of the garden's growth, where the plants start to wither and die, symbolizing the inevitable decay and decay that comes with life.
The garden itself is a powerful symbol in the poem, representing the speaker's life and the labor required to achieve their goals. The different stages of the garden's growth also serve as a metaphor for the different stages of the speaker's life, from the early stages of uncertainty and doubt to the middle stages of growth and fulfillment, and finally to the end stages of decay and loss.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Marge Piercy's "The Seven Of Pentacles" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of labor, patience, and uncertainty. Through the metaphor of the garden, Piercy creates a vivid and striking image of the speaker's life, showing the different stages of growth and the challenges that come with achieving one's goals. Whether you are a fan of poetry, social activism, or feminist literature, this poem is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Seven of Pentacles: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Marge Piercy's "The Seven of Pentacles" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of life's struggles and the rewards that come with hard work and perseverance. The poem is a reflection of the human condition, and it speaks to the heart of every person who has ever faced adversity and overcome it.
The poem is structured in seven stanzas, each representing a different stage in the growth of a plant. The plant is a metaphor for life, and the seven stages represent the different phases that we go through as we grow and mature. The poem begins with the planting of the seed, and it ends with the harvest. In between, we see the plant grow, struggle, and eventually thrive.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. It describes the act of planting the seed and the anticipation that comes with it. The speaker is hopeful and optimistic, but there is also a sense of uncertainty. The seed has been planted, but there is no guarantee that it will grow. The speaker is aware of this, but he is also willing to take the risk.
In the second stanza, we see the first signs of growth. The plant has sprouted, and the speaker is filled with joy and excitement. He is amazed at the power of nature and the miracle of life. The plant is still fragile, but it is also full of potential. The speaker is filled with hope and optimism, and he is eager to see what the future holds.
The third stanza is where the struggle begins. The plant is growing, but it is also facing challenges. The speaker describes the weeds that are growing alongside the plant, threatening to choke it. He knows that he must take action to protect the plant, but he is also aware of the risks involved. He must be careful not to damage the plant in the process.
In the fourth stanza, we see the plant starting to overcome the challenges. The speaker has taken action, and the plant is growing stronger. The weeds are still there, but they are no longer a threat. The speaker is filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. He has overcome the obstacles, and he knows that the plant is on its way to success.
The fifth stanza is a turning point in the poem. The plant has grown to a point where it is no longer fragile. It is now a strong and sturdy plant, capable of withstanding the challenges that come its way. The speaker is filled with a sense of awe and wonder. He is amazed at the power of nature and the resilience of life.
In the sixth stanza, we see the plant reaching its full potential. It is now a mature plant, ready to bear fruit. The speaker is filled with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. He knows that his hard work has paid off, and he is proud of what he has accomplished.
The final stanza is the harvest. The plant has borne fruit, and the speaker is filled with a sense of gratitude and joy. He knows that he has been blessed, and he is thankful for the rewards that have come his way. The harvest is a celebration of life and all that it has to offer.
In conclusion, "The Seven of Pentacles" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of life's struggles and the rewards that come with hard work and perseverance. It is a reflection of the human condition, and it speaks to the heart of every person who has ever faced adversity and overcome it. The poem is a reminder that life is a journey, and that we must be willing to take risks and face challenges in order to grow and thrive. It is a celebration of life and all that it has to offer, and it is a testament to the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit.
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