Poetry and Revelation

I started a Poetry unit with the 8th graders I'm working with this semester. They are homeless and at-risk youth enrolled in a Juvenile Court school. This was one of the poems I read to them to begin the unit.

Barbie Doll

By Marge Piercy

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.

After a few seconds of rapt and stunned silence a boy who is so smart and full of potential that the idea he might not reach that potential is unthinkable, spoke--for himself and his peers.

"Man, that is so messed up."

Comments

[allmycke]

This is one poem I'd like to use in my English class...
Tell us more about your work at that school!

[Reluctant Blogger]

I just never get poetry. It is partly the short lines (which I just cannot read) but there must be more to it. I have tried but my eyes and mind wander off halfway through.

I am better if it is read but not a lot better.

Shame really.

[Smalltown Mom]

I hope that boy makes it.

[Mary Alice]

I've read that one before. Still in punches me right in the gut.

[Suzanne]

WOW. Messed up to the max.

[blognut]

That is a good one. I bet that brought about some good discussion.

[kcinnova]

Very Messed Up. What happened in the following discussion?

(My brothers at that age called me fat and ugly. Guess what words I hear repeated on the tape that plays in my head?)

[Professor J]

I like that boy.

[jenrantsraves]

Funny, because that is exactly what I was thinking! I would have loved to hear the discussion that followed!

[Manic Mommy]

That poem gives you so much to think about. I would love to hear what it says to those kids.

[mandy]

My favourite unit to teach when I was teaching high school English was the media unit. The kids loved deconstructing popular songs, ads and television shows for warped societal messages.

[Irish Goddess]

I am so impressed by you! I love Marge Piercy. I still remember reading The Edible Woman

[Jennifer H]

I love Marge Piercy. And that boy's reaction.

[debbie]

That comment coming from a homeless, at-risk kid? Well...he knows messed up.

I had never read that poem...I have a class that would love it...let's see what a group of pretty high on the money ladder Japanese ladies have to say about that! This could be interesting...thanks for the idea, Jenn.

[madmad]

Oh, that is excellent! Both.

[Jessica Bern]

Wow, that was painful to read. I've never read that before.

[Cheri @ Blog This Mom!]

Our hearts warm the most in the least expected places.