The Friend - A poem by Marge Piercy

Marge Piercy - The Friend

We sat across the table.
he said, cut off your hands.
they are always poking at things.
they might touch me.
I said yes.

Food grew cold on the table.
he said, burn your body.
it is not clean and smells like sex.
it rubs my mind sore.
I said yes.

I love you, I said.
That's very nice, he said
I like to be loved,
that makes me happy.
Have you cut off your hands yet?

Added: on May 21st, 2007 at 7:54 PM | Viewed: 2614 times | Comments and analysis of The Friend by Marge Piercy Comments (5)

The Friend - Comments and Information
Poet: Marge Piercy Poem: The Friend Comment 5 of 5, added on March 25th, 2008 at 11:39 PM. i believe this poem is saying how you can do things for love and no i do not find it funny but the focus is particularly for the women to fall in love with the correct men not with the one who will ask you to cut of your hands. Martha from Mexico Comment 4 of 5, added on November 25th, 2007 at 4:56 PM. This poem was not intended to be funny. Piercy is writing, once again, about the way SOME men treat women. I admit that equality between men and women has come a long way since the 60's, but there are some frames of mind that will keep repeating as ignorance breeds ignorance. I chose Marge Piercy as the poet to base my research essay on and now I'm finding that I've made a really good choice as her poems all deal with real issues in the world and aren't constrained by ryme or meter, and takes advantage of the free-verse style. Perhaps this in itself is another measure to pass along her messages of freedom and unconstraint by rules. Hannah from Canada Comment 3 of 5, added on May 21st, 2007 at 7:54 PM. This is a funny poem. I like funny pems more than interesting ones. jacob from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Friend, has received 5 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: The Friend Last read: May 16 2008, 2:38AM Viewed 2614 times. Added on May 21st, 2007 at 7:54 PM.

Piercy Info
Biography More Poems (23 poems) Books