23 Comments
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Donna Schaper's avatar

Thank you, Esther Cohen and Marge Piercy for giving me some poetry to help my anger manager. She is having a very hard time staying sane. "What to do when your heart is broken? Pick up the pieces and make art out of them."

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Esther Cohen's avatar

me too

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Lisa Jardine's avatar

AMEN to that poem.

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Marlyn Klee's avatar

Our greatest truths are rendered by our poets. Thank you, Esther.

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Maria Gillan's avatar

Amazing poem. I love marge piercy’s poems. Thanks for posting this. We really need work like this now,

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Claire Marcus's avatar

That covers everything.

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Leslie's avatar

Very powerful poem. Still no one talks about the man's responsibility. He still gets away scot free and rarely feels the emotional or financial burden of the consequences of him climbing on top of her when it's rape, abuse, or casual and consenting sex. When will we fully shame men for their role when they walk away? Much respect to the men who do take this seriously and love and cherish their children or comfort and support their women when they make the most difficult decisions regarding their unplanned pregnancy. ox

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B L's avatar

Thank you for this.

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Lesliedit's avatar

I would add that dealing with an unplanned pregnancy is such an important endeavor, full of huge implications and nuances both moral and medical. It should be handled by the best possible person. Is there a woman nearby?

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elainesraad@gmail.com's avatar

Wow. Well spoken.

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Lesliedit's avatar

This rips me open in the best way.

Fury sharpens her tools.

Thank you for this.

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Jeany Wolf's avatar

Wow, Esther…simple and enraged words aren’t enough, so this poetic expression of rage is a good form. Thanks

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Barbara's avatar

Thank you, Esther, for remembering this poem and Marge Piercy. How sad that it's become true again.

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Terry Tolk's avatar

Great !

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Dianne Rohr's avatar

Wow! Marge Piercy. I have all her poems on my shelf, would read them to my boyfriend after my little kids were in bed. I was a single mom, had no real home since my mother died when I was 2. When I found I was pregnant by college boyfriend in 1970, he deserted me. Forced to give birth, leave college in 4th yr, I kept my son, whom I love dearly. Having been orphaned myself, I could not take my OB's advice and give my child away. My life has never been my own, always felt something is wrong. Now my life is good, but not the road I chose. Son's father paid no price at all.

Cannot believe we women are here again. So grateful you brought out Aunt Marge, as I always called her, she is the Big Guns.

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Esther Cohen's avatar

Dianne, Thanks for writing. Sounds like you have a big story to tell. I hope you tell it.

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Mary Scott's avatar

Thank you for posting Marge Piercy’s poem. I just read it to my daughter-in-law, Emily Benson-Scott. It turns out that Emily is familiar with Marge’s writing so that added a layer of appreciation to this very dynamic poem.

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Bluebird's avatar

This is breathtaking.

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