Tag Archives: "To Be of Use"

How Sports Spurred My Literary Imagination

By Robin Bates | Published: June 12, 2026

In which I examine my longtime relationship with sports, along with some of its literary associations.

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Note to Trump: Time for Real Work

By Robin Bates | Published: December 4, 2024

Marge Piercy’s “To Be of Use” should be a reminder to incoming politicians that the real work of governing is not a television reality show.

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The Work of the World Is Common as Mud

By Robin Bates | Published: March 14, 2017

Marge Piercy’s poem “To Be of Use” essentially shows why Barack Obama’s legacy is likely to survive GOP repeal efforts. The difference is work that comes from a deep place as opposed to shallowly grounded executive orders.

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