'You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop' by Marge Piercy
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You ask why sometimes I say stop
why sometimes I cry no
while I shake with pleasure.
What do I fear, you ask,
why don't I always want to come
and come again to that molten
deep sea center where the nerves
fuse open and the brain
and body shine with a black wordless light
fluorescent and heaving like plankton.
If you turn over the old refuse
of sexual slang, the worn buttons
of language, you find men
talk of spending and women
of dying.
You come in a torrent and ease
into limpness. Pleasure takes me
farther and farther from the shore
in a series of breakers, each
towering higher before it
crashes and spills flat.
I am open then as a palm held out,
open as a sunflower, without
crust, without shelter, without
skin, hideless and unhidden.
How can I let you ride
so far into me and not fear?
Helpless as a burning city,
how can I ignore that the extremes
of pleasure are fire storms
that leave a vacuum into which
dangerous feelings (tenderness,
affection, l o v e) may rush
like gale force winds.
Submitted by SorrowOfCeres
Editor 1 Interpretation
"You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop" by Marge Piercy: A Critical Analysis
Have you ever read a poem that made you sit back and think? A poem that left you contemplating the deeper meanings and the emotions that the writer tried to convey? "You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop" by Marge Piercy is just that kind of poem. In this literary analysis, we will explore the themes and ideas presented in this classic poem and try to understand the poet's intentions.
About the Poet
Before we delve into the poem itself, let's take a moment to know a bit about the poet Marge Piercy. Piercy is a famous American poet, novelist, and social activist, known for her feminist writings. She was born in 1936 in Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan. Piercy has written numerous books and poems, including "The Moon is Always Female," "Woman on the Edge of Time," and "The Art of Blessing the Day." Her works often deal with social and political issues, particularly feminism.
Overview of the Poem
"You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop" is a poem of 17 lines that explores the themes of love, passion, and self-empowerment. The poem starts with a question directed at the speaker by an unknown person, asking why she sometimes says "stop" during moments of intimacy. The speaker then describes the physical and emotional sensations that she experiences during these moments, and how she needs to take control of her own pleasure. The poem ends on a powerful note, with the speaker asserting her right to say stop and her need for self-empowerment.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem starts with a straightforward and provocative question - "You ask why sometimes I say stop." This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem and immediately draws the reader into the speaker's world. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, which gives the poet the freedom to express her thoughts and feelings in a raw and emotional way.
The speaker then goes on to describe the moments of intimacy and the sensations that she experiences - "when I feel your hands reaching for me like waves, when you devour me with your eyes." The use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a powerful image of passion and desire. However, the speaker also describes how sometimes she feels overwhelmed and needs to take control - "because I need to breathe and not drown, because I am not a river or a well." This line emphasizes the importance of self-empowerment and the need for individuals to take control of their own pleasure.
The poem then takes a turn, with the speaker asserting her right to say stop - "because I have the right to stop, because I have the right to say no." This line is particularly significant in the context of feminist poetry. The speaker is asserting her autonomy and her right to make her own choices, even in moments of intimacy. This assertion of power is further emphasized in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker declares her need for self-empowerment - "because I want to control my own fires, because I need to stand alone in the dark."
Interpretation of the Poem
"You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, passion, and self-empowerment. The poem can be interpreted in several ways, depending on one's perspective and personal experiences.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a feminist statement about the importance of consent and self-empowerment. The speaker's assertion of her right to say stop and her need for control over her own pleasure can be seen as a commentary on the patriarchal society that often denies women agency and autonomy.
Another interpretation is that the poem is a celebration of passion and the physical sensations of intimacy. The use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a powerful image of desire and lust, while the speaker's need for control emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and consent in sexual relationships.
The poem can also be interpreted as a statement about the human condition. The speaker's need for self-empowerment and her desire to stand alone in the dark can be seen as a reflection of the human desire for independence and self-discovery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop" by Marge Piercy is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, passion, and self-empowerment. The poem's use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a powerful image of desire and lust, while the speaker's assertion of her right to say stop emphasizes the importance of consent and self-empowerment. The poem can be interpreted in several ways, depending on one's perspective and personal experiences. However, one thing is certain - this classic poem will continue to inspire and provoke readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop: A Poem of Resistance and Empowerment
Marge Piercy’s poem, “You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop,” is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that speaks to the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. Through vivid imagery and a strong voice, Piercy explores the themes of resistance, empowerment, and the struggle for agency in a world that seeks to silence and control women.
The poem begins with a simple question: “You ask why sometimes I say stop.” This question immediately draws the reader in, inviting them to explore the reasons behind the speaker’s actions. The use of the second person “you” creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, as if the speaker is addressing the reader directly. This creates a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is trying to convey an important message that needs to be heard.
The poem then goes on to describe the various situations in which the speaker might say “stop.” These situations range from the mundane (“when you tickle me too much”) to the more serious (“when you try to control me”). Through these examples, Piercy highlights the ways in which women are often subjected to unwanted attention and control, both in their personal relationships and in society at large.
The poem then takes a more political turn, as the speaker declares that she will not be silenced or controlled by those who seek to oppress her. She declares, “I will not be a victim / I will not be a slave / I will not be a toy / I will not be a plaything / I will not be a thing.” This powerful declaration of agency and resistance is a rallying cry for women everywhere who have been subjected to oppression and control.
Throughout the poem, Piercy uses vivid imagery to convey the speaker’s emotions and experiences. For example, she describes the feeling of being tickled too much as “a thousand ants crawling over my skin.” This image conveys the discomfort and violation that the speaker feels in this situation. Similarly, when describing the feeling of being controlled, Piercy writes, “I feel the noose tighten / I feel the chains rattle / I feel the cage close in.” These images create a sense of claustrophobia and suffocation, conveying the sense of powerlessness that the speaker feels in these situations.
The poem also explores the theme of empowerment, as the speaker declares her intention to take control of her own life. She declares, “I will be a woman / I will be a person / I will be a human being / I will be myself.” This declaration of selfhood and agency is a powerful statement of empowerment, as the speaker asserts her right to be treated as a full and equal human being.
The poem ends with a call to action, as the speaker declares that she will not be silenced or controlled. She declares, “I will speak out / I will resist / I will fight back / I will not be silenced.” This call to action is a powerful statement of resistance, as the speaker asserts her right to speak out against oppression and control.
In conclusion, Marge Piercy’s poem, “You Ask Why Sometimes I Say Stop,” is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the themes of resistance, empowerment, and the struggle for agency in a patriarchal society. Through vivid imagery and a strong voice, Piercy conveys the experiences of women who have been subjected to unwanted attention and control, and asserts their right to resist and fight back. This poem is a rallying cry for women everywhere who have been subjected to oppression and control, and a powerful statement of empowerment and resistance.
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