“without Hard Work, Nothing Grows but Weeds

I. Introduction

A. Quote/Attention getter- “Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds” was once said by Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

B. Connector- Hard work is a necessity for everyone to live comfortably, but for some, beauty can be found in it.

C. Explicitly introduce poem and author- My Poem is To be of use by Marge Piercy found on page 8 of the green packet.

II. Body

A. Literal meaning explained- The poem is about Marge Piercy, and how she likes hard working people. Throughout the course of the poem, the speaker talks in a first person perspective. They continue to describe the people and how they work as well as describing the want of working with them. The speaker is a spectator to the fields and their workers

B. Figurative meaning explained- The poem is about how we all should each find our unique purpose and we should all strive to be of use. “The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real.” This part emphasizes how people feel about work. Work done by them should be worth it, or “real”, because of the difficulty of the work. Every action should have a reason for it, otherwise it is as useless as Hopi vases and Greek amphoras being put into museums, even though they were meant to be used. However, hard work is rewarding in of itself because of the result. “The thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.”

C. Four literary devices explained

1. Personification: The pitcher cries for water to carry

2. Metaphor: People who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart

3. Simile: Work of the world is common as mud.

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