Barbie Doll by "Marge Piercy"
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.
After read this poem, I want to make 2 or 3 questions about this poem with specific perspective. I hope the questions talk about "Themes or Contemporary Issues".
This questions will be shown to my classmates and they will comment specifically about my questions.
Sample Question of one of my classmates did for other question)
"The poem "Introduction to Poetry," by Billy Collins try and convey to the reader what poetry is really about; of what real poetry consists. They use broad and descriptive words and comparisons to explain the beauty of allowing the reader to find their own interpretation. Poetry is not about making a blunt and easily understood statement, which can sometimes confuse or irritates readers. It is about the journey taken to build your own conclusion. Why do you think it is so important for a poem to be able to have multiple interpretations? How do you think that adds to the complexity of poetry?