Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy's "Eat Fruit" is a vivid, humorous, and slightly rebellious meditation on the poet's peculiar and enduring relationship with fruit, which she contrasts with the more traditional advice from her mother. The poem opens with a series of cautionary warnings typical of parental guidance: "Keep your legs crossed, Mother said. Drinking leads to babies. Don't hang around street corners." These admonitions represent societal norms and expectations imposed on young women. In a playful twist, Piercy juxtaposes these warnings with her own defiant behavior: "I rushed to gulp moonshine on corners, hip outthrust." This initial contrast sets the stage for the exploration of her idiosyncratic obsession with fruit.

Despite her rebellion, one piece of maternal advice lingers and shines in her memory: "eat fruit." This commandment, seemingly innocuous and simple, becomes a defining trait of Piercy's persona. She humorously describes herself as "the only poet from whom you can confidently obtain after a reading enough mushy tan bananas to bake bread," emphasizing her unique and persistent attachment to fruit. This self-portrayal contrasts sharply with the stereotypical image of poets who might leave behind "ash, beer cans." Instead, Piercy declares, "I leak pits," highlighting her identity as one deeply connected to nature and the organic.

The poem continues with Piercy recounting various humorous and slightly absurd scenarios involving her fruit consumption. On a flight descending into Halifax, while her seat partner indulges in cocaine, she is "choking as I gobble three apples in five minutes." This act of consuming "agricultural contraband" at borders underscores her commitment to fruit, even in the face of legal restrictions. The juxtaposition of drug smuggling with her smuggling of a melon under her negligee further amplifies the humor and absurdity of her dedication.

Piercy paints herself as an outlier, a figure of amusement and mild annoyance to customs agents and fellow travelers. Her suitcase, filled with fruit, becomes a symbol of her defiance and individuality. She contrasts herself with "drug smugglers" who feed their "self-importance," while she is simply trying to bring in a melon or salami from the old country. This comparison highlights the triviality yet persistence of her "crime," underscoring the poet's playful and self-aware tone.

The imagery of "gory stains on railroad seats with fermenting strawberries" and the "happy cloud of winged creatures following my head" illustrates the messy and natural consequences of her fruit obsession. Piercy's whimsical descriptions reveal a deep-seated connection to the natural world, even as she acknowledges the inconvenience and absurdity of her habits. Her pride in raising "more fruitflies than genetics labs" and endowing "ant orphanages and retirement communities" further underscores her playful embrace of the natural repercussions of her fruit consumption.

In the closing lines, Piercy juxtaposes her fruit habits with the more conventional fast food choices of others: "While you are eating McMuffins I am savoring a bruised but extremely sophisticated pear that has seen five airports and four cities and grown old in wisdom." This final contrast highlights her preference for the organic, the wise, and the worldly, even if it is "bruised" and imperfect. The sophisticated pear becomes a metaphor for the poet herself, embodying a life rich with experiences and a commitment to authenticity.

"Eat Fruit" is a celebration of individuality, rebellion, and a deep, humorous connection to the natural world. Piercy's playful tone and vivid imagery create a memorable and endearing portrait of a poet who embraces the unconventional and finds joy in the simple act of eating fruit. Through her humorous and self-aware narrative, Piercy invites readers to reconsider societal norms and find their own unique paths to fulfillment.

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