Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy's "House Built of Breath" is a tender, intimate exploration of love expressed through the everyday and the ordinary, suffused with rich imagery that evokes the warmth and comfort of a shared life. The poem captures the essence of domestic affection, highlighting how simple words and common experiences form the foundation of a loving relationship.

The opening lines set the tone with a series of food metaphors that convey endearment: "Words plain as pancakes syruped with endearment. Simple as potatoes, homely as cottage cheese." These comparisons to staple foods suggest a love that is nourishing, comforting, and integral to daily life. The use of familiar and unpretentious items like pancakes, potatoes, and cottage cheese underscores the authenticity and sincerity of this affection.

Piercy continues to weave food imagery throughout the poem, using it to illustrate the various textures and rhythms of love: "Wet as onions, dry as salt. Slow as honey, fast as seltzer." This juxtaposition of contrasting elements—wet and dry, slow and fast—captures the multifaceted nature of a relationship, which can be both soothing and exhilarating. The playful terms of endearment—"my raisin, my sultana, my apricot love my artichoke, furry one, my pineapple"—add a whimsical and affectionate touch, highlighting the unique and personalized expressions of love between the partners.

The poem transitions to describe how words, though sometimes initially bitter or harsh ("The words trail a bitter slime like slugs"), ultimately bring warmth and comfort ("then in the belly warm like cabbage borscht"). This metaphor suggests that even difficult conversations or moments of tension can transform into understanding and intimacy over time. The imagery of words "hung out on the line, sheets for the wind to bleach" and "simmering slowly on the back burner like a good stew" further emphasizes the nurturing and restorative power of communication in a relationship.

Piercy extends the metaphor of words to other aspects of domestic life: "Words are the kindling in the woodstove. Even the quilt at night is stuffed with word down." Here, words are depicted as essential elements that provide warmth and comfort, reinforcing the idea that love and communication are interwoven into the very fabric of their shared existence.

The poem's concluding lines highlight the profound intimacy and connection between the partners: "When we are alone the walls sing and even the cats talk but only in Yiddish. When we are alone we make love in deeds. And then in words. And then in food." The mention of the walls singing and the cats talking in Yiddish adds a layer of cultural richness and a sense of a shared heritage. The sequence of making love "in deeds... in words... in food" encapsulates the holistic nature of their bond, where love is expressed through actions, spoken affirmations, and the communal experience of sharing meals.

In "House Built of Breath," Marge Piercy beautifully illustrates how love is built and sustained through everyday actions and simple, heartfelt words. The poem celebrates the profound significance of ordinary moments and the deep connection that arises from a life lived together, filled with shared experiences and mutual affection. Through her evocative imagery and tender expressions, Piercy captures the essence of a love that is both grounded in the mundane and elevated by its constancy and warmth.

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