The Longings of Women
By Marge Piercy
The longings of women:
butterflies beating against
ceilings painted blue like sky;
flies buzzing and thumping their heads
against the pane to get out.
They die and are swept off
in a feather duster.
The hopes of women are pinned
after cyanide by rows
labeled in Latin
the fragile wings fading.
The keeper speaks with melancholy
of how beautiful they were
as if he had not killed them.
The anger of women runs like small
brown ants you step on,
swarming in cracks in the pavement,
marching in long queues
through the foundation and inside,
nameless, for our names
are not yet our own.
Be we are many and hungry
and our teeth though small are sharp.
If we move together
there is no wall we cannot erode
dust-grain by speck, and the lion
when he lies down is prey
to the army of ants.
From: "My Mother's Body", page 95
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Well, I can now post photos on my blog, but I'm having trouble commenting on the blogs of others. So I'm reading all of my regulars, but have been unable to comment on most for some reason. I just wanted to let y'all know. I'm here and reading!!!
We've had major storms here for the past few days, flash floods and high winds so I've had my computer off and unplugged. My yard is a mess, but we didn't have any wind damage, thank God. My cats have drug up 3 baby Copperhead snakes the past few weeks and one live crawfish. LOL! I may have to call Billy the Exterminator (from the tv show) who is good friends with my nephew in Bossier City if it keeps up. We've seldom had poisonous snakes around here and I'm worried where the baby-mama is living!! I'll keep y'all posted on the reptile situation.
I have to say that Marge Piercy is one of my very favorite poets and this book above is a favorite, a real treasure overflowing with fabulous poems! Support poets and buy poetry!!
Love & Blessings,
Marion
