Marge Piercy — Because

I have loved the works of Marge Piercy for as long as I can remember, carrying The Moon is Always Female like a security blanket to comfort me in times of stress. Do yourself a favor and read her work. You can thank me later.

In the meantime, send me the name of your favorite poet by April 20 — and you may be chosen to receive a copy of my favorite book by my favorite poet. I'll select one submitter at random, and it could be you!

For the Young Who Want To

Talent is what they say
you have after the novel
is published and favorably
reviewed. Beforehand what
you have is a tedious
delusion, a hobby like knitting.

Work is what you have done
after the play is produced
and the audience claps.
Before that friends keep asking
when you are planning to go
out and get a job.

Genius is what they know you
had after the third volume
of remarkable poems. Earlier
they accuse you of withdrawing,
ask why you don't have a baby,
call you a bum.

The reason people want M.F.A.'s,
take workshops with fancy names
when all you can really
learn is a few techniques,
typing instructions and some-
body else's mannerisms

is that every artist lacks
a license to hang on the wall
like your optician, your vet
proving you may be a clumsy sadist
whose fillings fall into the stew
but you're certified a dentist.

The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an invention like phlogiston
after the fact of fire.
Work is its own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.

by Marge Piercy

courtesy poemhunter.com