18 pages • 36 minutes read
To Be Of Use
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
“To Be of Use” by Marge Piercy is a lyric poem of four stanzas that was first published in a 1973 collection of the same title. This collection was Piercy’s fourth, published relatively early in her career. The poem also appeared in Piercy’s Circles on the Water, a collection of selected poems published in 1982, and Piercy mentions it as “one of [her] favorite poems” (See: Further Reading & Resources) in that volume’s Introduction. While Piercy is known for her political activism and feminism, this poem has been embraced both popularly and critically. It is often noted for its focus of the dignity of hard work and its theme of perseverance. It is indicative of Piercy’s focus on social concerns, particularly her support of labor equity.
In an appearance at the 2015 Massachusetts Poetry Festival, Piercy talked about the poem’s “strange afterlife” since its original publication in 1973, noting it is often read at memorials for “lawyers and activists” (See: Further Reading & Resources). The poem is widely taught and appears in several anthologies. Besides its subject matter, the poem is notable as a good example of Piercy’s non-rhyming imagistic style and colloquial Unlock all 18 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By Marge Piercy
