'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 us
interconnected 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.
Submitted by Kate Bennett
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Seven of Pentacles: A Reflection on Life and Labor
As a poem, The Seven of Pentacles by Marge Piercy is a piece that explores the themes of labor, perseverance, and reflection. Through vivid imagery and meaningful symbolism, Piercy brings to life the story of a farmer who is taking stock of his labor and contemplating the fruits of his hard work. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human condition and how our labor shapes our lives. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we delve deep into the themes and ideas in The Seven of Pentacles, exploring the rich world of meaning that Piercy has created.
A World of Labor
The Seven of Pentacles is a poem that is rooted in the world of labor. From the very beginning, Piercy draws us into the world of the farmer, with his "dirty hands and calloused fingers" and his "sweat-drenched shirt." We can almost feel the roughness of the soil under our own feet, as we stand beside the farmer, watching him tend to his crops. Piercy's language is evocative and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the world of labor.
But this is not just any kind of labor. The farmer in the poem is engaged in the kind of work that is deeply connected to the land and the cycles of nature. He is not just working for money or for some abstract goal; he is working to coax life out of the earth, to make something grow. This kind of labor is both physical and spiritual, and it is this combination that gives the poem its power.
Perseverance and Patience
As the farmer works, Piercy reminds us of the importance of perseverance and patience. The farmer is not expecting immediate results; he knows that his labor will take time to bear fruit. He is willing to put in the time and effort, day after day, season after season, to see the results he desires.
This is a lesson that we can all learn from. In our modern world of instant gratification and immediate results, it can be easy to forget the value of perseverance and patience. The Seven of Pentacles is a reminder that some things in life take time, and that we must be willing to put in the effort and wait for the results.
Reflection and Contemplation
As the farmer looks at his crops, Piercy takes us into the world of reflection and contemplation. The farmer is not just looking at his crops; he is reflecting on his labor, on the choices he has made, and on the path that he has taken in life. He is contemplating the fruits of his labor, both literally and metaphorically.
This moment of reflection is an important one, and it is something that we should all take the time to do. In our busy lives, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine and forget to reflect on the bigger picture. The Seven of Pentacles is a reminder that we must take the time to step back, to reflect on our lives and our labor, and to contemplate the fruits of our efforts.
The Symbolism of the Seven of Pentacles
The title of the poem, The Seven of Pentacles, is a reference to the tarot card of the same name. In tarot, the Seven of Pentacles represents a time of waiting and contemplation. It is a card that encourages us to take the time to reflect on our lives and our goals, and to contemplate the next steps we should take.
In Piercy's poem, the Seven of Pentacles serves as a powerful symbol for the themes of labor, perseverance, and reflection. The farmer is like a tarot card reader, taking the time to reflect on his work and to contemplate the next steps he should take. The Seven of Pentacles is a reminder that we must all take the time to reflect on our lives and our goals, and to contemplate the next steps we should take.
The Human Condition
At its core, The Seven of Pentacles is a poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a reminder that we are all engaged in the labor of life, that we must persevere and be patient, and that we must take the time to reflect on our lives and our goals. It is a powerful commentary on the importance of labor in shaping our lives, and on the power of reflection and contemplation in helping us to find our way.
In conclusion, The Seven of Pentacles is a poem that has much to teach us about life and labor. Through its vivid language and evocative imagery, Piercy takes us into the world of the farmer, showing us the power of perseverance, patience, and reflection. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human condition, and it is a reminder that we must all take the time to reflect on our lives and our labor, and to contemplate the fruits of our efforts.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Seven of Pentacles: A Poem of Reflection and Growth
Marge Piercy's "The Seven of Pentacles" is a classic poem that speaks to the human experience of hard work, patience, and the rewards of perseverance. The poem is a reflection on the act of planting and tending to a garden, and the lessons that can be learned from this process. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Piercy explores themes of growth, change, and the importance of taking the time to reflect on one's efforts.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the act of planting a garden, "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." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker reflects on the slow and steady process of growth. The use of the phrase "slowly enough" emphasizes the importance of patience and the idea that good things take time to develop.
As the poem continues, the speaker describes the act of tending to the garden, "if you tend them properly, / if you mulch, if you water, / if you weed, / if you mulch, / if you hoe, / if you prune, / if you keep on top of pests, / then you get a crop." This list of actions emphasizes the hard work and dedication required to grow a successful garden. The repetition of "if you" emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions and the idea that success is not handed to us, but rather earned through hard work and effort.
The poem then shifts to a reflection on the act of waiting, "I planted my self as a bed / in which to grow / my own seed." This line speaks to the idea that growth is not just about external actions, but also about internal reflection and personal development. The speaker is planting the seeds of their own growth and taking the time to nurture themselves. This idea is further emphasized in the following lines, "I will keep / watering / you / and mulching / and weeding / patiently / beyond your / flowering / and fruiting." The use of the second person pronoun "you" suggests that the speaker is addressing themselves, emphasizing the importance of self-care and the idea that growth is a continuous process that requires ongoing attention and effort.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the rewards of hard work and patience, "It is reasonable / to expect / a garden / to bloom / in its time." This line speaks to the idea that success is not always immediate, but rather something that develops over time. The use of the word "reasonable" suggests that the speaker has a realistic understanding of the process of growth and the idea that good things take time. The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the beauty of the garden, "But I do not / find / myself / beautiful, / and I wonder a little / at the star / that seemed so clear / that is now / fading / and shadowed / beneath the bright / shafts of / morning / with no more / light left / to it / but the trace / of the tears."
This final stanza is a powerful reflection on the idea that growth is not just about external success, but also about internal reflection and personal development. The speaker has tended to their garden with care and patience, but they still struggle with their own self-image. The use of the word "tears" suggests that the speaker is still grappling with their own emotions and the idea that growth is not always easy. The final image of the fading star emphasizes the idea that success is not always permanent, but rather something that requires ongoing attention and effort.
In conclusion, "The Seven of Pentacles" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience of growth, change, and the rewards of hard work and patience. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Piercy explores the slow and steady process of growth and the importance of taking the time to reflect on one's efforts. The poem is a reminder that success is not handed to us, but rather earned through hard work and dedication. It is a call to action to tend to our own gardens, both external and internal, with care and patience, and to embrace the ongoing process of growth and personal development.
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