Last evening, talking about the poetry list, Thane introduced me to a new poet, \u00a0Marge Piercy. \u00a0I love it. \u00a0A fringe benefit of one friend traveling to see another friend\u2019s city.\u00a0 A poem rewards reading it outloud, with pauses. \u00a0Have a blest end of week and weekend.<\/p>\n
john sj<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Post\u00a0 –\u00a0 \u201cTo be of use\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The people I love the best I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, I want to be with people who submerge The work of the world is common as mud. Marge Piercy<\/p>\n b. 1936<\/p>\n https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marge_Piercy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Friday, Thanksgiving break is peeking around the corner A\u00a0close and dear friend, Thane Kreiner, came to visit for two days. \u00a0When a good friend comes to stay, I like to leave a note on the community bulletin board. \u00a0This is … Continue reading
\njump into work head first
\nwithout dallying in the shallows
\nand swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
\nThey seem to become natives of that element,
\nthe black sleek heads of seals
\nbouncing like half-submerged balls.<\/p>\n
\nwho pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
\nwho strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
\nwho do what has to be done, again and again.<\/p>\n
\nin the task, who go into the fields to harvest
\nand work in a row and pass the bags along,
\nwho are not parlor generals and field deserters
\nbut move in a common rhythm
\nwhen the food must come in or the fire be put out.<\/p>\n
\nBotched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
\nBut the thing worth doing well done
\nhas a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
\nGreek amphoras for wine or oil,
\nHopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
\nbut you know they were made to be used.
\nThe pitcher cries for water to carry
\nand a person for work that is real.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/poetry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2018\/11\/MargePiercy.jpg\")
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