Barbie Doll - A poem by Marge Piercy

Marge Piercy - Barbie Doll

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.

Added: on February 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 AM | Viewed: 10476 times | Comments and analysis of Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy Comments (6)

Barbie Doll - Comments and Information
Poet: Marge Piercy Poem: Barbie Doll Volume: Circles on the Water: Selected Poems of Marge Piercy Year: Published/Written in 1999 Comment 6 of 6, added on April 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 PM. in regards to the definition of consummation given by Ashlee.. it really means "the point at which an act is completed or finalized- SUCH AS "completion of a marriage by sexual intercourse" sara from Canada Comment 5 of 6, added on March 9th, 2008 at 9:07 AM. While I can see the nightie as a wedding gown and all...I see it as more or less she is undergoing cosmetic surgery in order to change her flaws. Let us not overlook that pink and white are colors also commonly associated with Barbie and girls in general..the putty nose could very well be the plastic nose. Just a thought. Angela from United States Comment 4 of 6, added on February 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 AM. This poem is more then just her "killing herself", this poem is about marriage and the only way to find a guy was to work herself to the bone, to get rid of her nose and legs. she didn't actually cut them off, the white and pink nightie.. a wedding dress, undertaker-her mother, in order to find a husband she gave her feelings and thoughts up.. to become.. plastic.. a carbon copy of a Barbie doll. the end stanza where she said "Consummation at last" ...consummation is a term that means the completion of a marriage by sexual intercourse. Ashlee from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Barbie Doll, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Marge Piercy with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Marge Piercy Poem: Barbie Doll Volume: Circles on the Water: Selected Poems of Marge Piercy Year: Published/Written in 1999 Last read: May 12 2008, 4:35AM Viewed 10476 times. Added on February 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 AM.

Piercy Info
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