Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy’s poem "Amidah: On Our Feet We Speak to You" is a rich tapestry of spiritual reflection, historical memory, and ethical imperatives, woven together through a communal prayer-like address. The poem, inspired by the Amidah—a central prayer in Jewish liturgy—explores themes of resilience, community, compassion, and the continuous striving for holiness and justice.

The poem begins with a powerful image of collective action: "We rise to speak / a web of bodies aligned like notes of music." This metaphor suggests harmony and unity, emphasizing the importance of community and shared purpose. The speaker calls for blessings on the forces that have brought the community through trials: "Bless what brought us through / the sea and the fire; we are caught / in history like whales in polar ice." These lines evoke the biblical exodus and other historical struggles, framing the community’s survival as a testament to their resilience and determination.

Piercy reflects on the lessons learned from history and tradition, highlighting the importance of persistence and mutual support: "Yet you have taught us to push against the walls, / to reach out and pull each other along, / to strive to find the way through / if there is no way around, to go on." This call to action underscores the value of collective effort and the relentless pursuit of progress, despite obstacles.

The poem honors the ancestors and their enduring legacy: "We reach back through two hundred arches of hips / long dust, carrying their memories inside us / to live again in our life, Isaac and Rebecca, / Rachel, Jacob, and Leah." By invoking these ancestral figures, Piercy connects the present to the past, emphasizing the continuity of tradition and the responsibility to honor and carry forward their legacy.

Piercy’s invocation of blessings extends to various aspects of life, from the tranquility of sleep to the opening of oneself to love and compassion. "Bless the quiet of sleep / easing over the ravaged body," she writes, recognizing the restorative power of rest. The poem also blesses the act of opening oneself in love: "Bless the teaching of how to open / in love so all the doors and windows of the body / swing wide on their rusty hinges." This openness is essential for genuine connection and the giving of oneself fully.

Compassion is a central theme in the poem, highlighted through the care for the vulnerable: "Bless what stirs in us compassion / for the hunger of the chickadee in the storm / starving for seeds we can carry out, / the wounded cat wailing in the alley." These lines remind the reader of the interconnectedness of all living beings and the moral duty to act with kindness and generosity.

Memory is also blessed for its power to connect the living with the dead: "Bless the gift of memory / that breaks unbidden, released / from a flower or a cup of tea / so the dead move like rain through the room." This imagery suggests the pervasive and often unexpected nature of memory, which keeps the presence of the departed alive in the daily lives of the living.

The poem concludes with a call to action, urging the community to strive for justice, mercy, and healing: "We must act out justice and mercy and healing / as the sun rises and as the sun sets, / as the moon rises and the stars wheel above us, / we must repair goodness." This universal imperative to "repair the world" (tikkun olam) is a foundational principle in Jewish ethics and resonates throughout the poem.

Piercy’s final exhortation emphasizes the sacredness of every act of goodness: "Holy is the hand that works for peace and for justice, / Holy is the mouth that speaks for goodness / holy is the foot that walks toward mercy." By sanctifying these everyday actions, the poem elevates the mundane to the divine, encouraging readers to see the potential for holiness in their daily lives.

"Amidah: On Our Feet We Speak to You" is a profound meditation on the human capacity for resilience, compassion, and collective action. Marge Piercy’s use of rich imagery and spiritual themes creates a powerful call to live with intention, honor the past, and work tirelessly for a better future. The poem serves as both a reflection on communal identity and a guide for ethical living, reminding us of our shared responsibility to each other and to the world.

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