A Work of Artifice By Marge Piercy

"The Work of Artifice" is a short yet powerful poem by American poet Marge Piercy, first published in 1973.

At first glance, the poem describes how a bonsai tree is shaped and controlled by human hands, but underneath this simple image lies a deep, symbolic meaning.
The bonsai tree becomes a metaphor for women, or more broadly, anyone who is restricted, confined, or made smaller by societal expectations.

In just a few carefully crafted lines, Piercy highlights how natural growth, strength, and independence are often curbed, trimmed, and reshaped to fit narrow definitions — particularly by patriarchal societies.

The poem uses minimalistic language, controlled rhythm, and sharp imagery to mirror the tight constraints placed on both the tree and human beings.
Despite its brevity, the poem makes a strong feminist and humanist statement about oppression, control, and lost potential.

Why Was the Poem Written?

Marge Piercy wrote "The Work of Artifice" in the context of the feminist movements of the 1960s and 70s in America — a time when women were increasingly questioning their traditional roles and fighting for equal rights.

Through the image of the bonsai tree, Piercy shows:

• How social systems (especially patriarchy) work silently and subtly to limit individual potential.

• How people — especially women — are taught to shrink themselves: to be small, delicate, dependent, and pleasing rather than bold, strong, and self-determined.

• That these limitations are not natural, but are carefully and deliberately constructed — much like the shaping of a bonsai tree by constant pruning and wiring.

Thus, the poem was written as a critique of societal control, a call for awareness, and an inspiration for individuals to recognize and resist artificial limitations placed upon them.

About the Author — Marge Piercy

• Marge Piercy (born 1936) is a celebrated American poet, novelist, and social activist.

• Her work often focuses on social justice, feminism, environmental concerns, Jewish identity, and working-class struggles.

• Piercy grew up in a poor household in Detroit, Michigan, and her experiences of poverty, gender discrimination, and social inequality deeply shaped her writing.

• She has published numerous poetry collections and novels, with some of her most famous works being "Woman on the Edge of Time", "Gone to Soldiers", and "The Moon Is Always Female".

• Piercy’s writing style is known for being clear, direct, and emotionally powerful, often blending personal experience with political insight.

"A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done." — This spirit echoes strongly in "The Work of Artifice."

Line-by-Line Explanation

Lines 1-2:
"The bonsai tree / in the attractive pot"

• The bonsai tree is a metaphor for women who are confined and shaped by societal expectations.
• The attractive pot symbolizes the seemingly comfortable but restrictive environment imposed on women. It represents how oppression is often disguised as care or protection.

Lines 3-5:
"could have grown eighty feet tall / on the side of a mountain / till split by lightning."

• The tree had the potential to grow naturally to great heights, symbolizing the immense capabilities of women if given freedom.
• "On the side of a mountain" suggests strength, independence, and an untamed, natural existence.
• "Till split by lightning" might imply that even in nature, there are struggles, but they are part of growth and destiny—unlike the artificial restrictions imposed by society.

Lines 6-8:
"But a gardener / carefully pruned it. / It is nine inches high."

• The gardener represents patriarchal forces—society, family, institutions—that actively limit women's potential.
• "Carefully pruned it" signifies systematic control, where women’s ambitions and strengths are deliberately curtailed.
• The contrast between eighty feet tall and nine inches high highlights the drastic limitation imposed upon women’s growth.

Lines 9-13:
"Every day as he / whittles back the branches / the gardener croons, / It is your nature / to be small and cozy,"

• The whittling back of branches is a recurring process, symbolizing lifelong societal conditioning.
• The gardener crooning shows how oppression is often disguised as love and care, making it seem natural and acceptable.
• "It is your nature to be small and cozy"—this line reflects the lies society tells women: that their restricted roles are inherent rather than imposed.

Lines 14-15:
"domestic and weak; / how lucky, little tree,"

• Women are told that their primary role is to be domestic (homebound) and weak (dependent on men).
• "How lucky" is ironic because the tree is not lucky—it is confined. This echoes how women are often told they are fortunate to have protection while being denied freedom.

Lines 16-17:
"to have a pot to grow in."

• The pot represents societal limitations, such as marriage, domesticity, and cultural norms that restrict women’s freedom.
• The irony here is that the tree (or woman) is led to believe that confinement is a privilege rather than a limitation.

Lines 18-19:
"With living creatures / one must begin very early"

• Here, the poem moves from the tree to a broader commentary on human conditioning.
• "One must begin very early" highlights how patriarchal control starts in childhood, shaping women's behaviors and aspirations before they can resist.

Lines 20-24:
"to dwarf their growth: / the bound feet, / the crippled brain, / the hair in curlers, / the hands you love to touch."

• "To dwarf their growth" emphasizes the intentional suppression of women's potential.
• "Bound feet" refers to the Chinese practice of foot-binding, a historical example of patriarchal control over women's bodies.
• "Crippled brain" suggests the denial of education and intellectual freedom to women.
• "Hair in curlers" represents societal beauty standards that demand women conform to unrealistic expectations.
• "The hands you love to touch" adds a chilling element, implying that even love and intimacy can be sites of oppression and control.

Themes

1. Patriarchal Oppression: The poem critiques how society stunts women's potential, conditioning them into believing their restrictions are natural and necessary.
2. Systematic Control: The gardener metaphor illustrates how institutions, traditions, and even loved ones impose limitations on women.
3. False Justification: The poem highlights how oppression is disguised as care, making women accept their restricted roles as natural.
4. Conditioning from Childhood: The last few lines emphasize how this control starts early, shaping women’s lives before they can resist.
5. Women’s Lost Potential: By contrasting the bonsai tree’s nine inches with eighty feet, the poem underscores how much women could achieve if given true freedom.

Message of the Poem

Marge Piercy’s poem conveys a strong feminist message: women’s capabilities are immense, but they are systematically curtailed by societal norms that enforce domesticity, weakness, and dependence. The poem urges readers to recognize and challenge these artificial limitations, allowing women to grow to their full potential instead of being confined by restrictive roles.

Rhyming Scheme

A Work of Artifice is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme. This lack of rhyme and regular meter reflects the poem’s theme of breaking free from constraints—it defies the rigid structure just as women should resist imposed limitations.

Final Thoughts

The poem is deceptively simple but deeply impactful, using the extended metaphor of the bonsai tree to expose the societal conditioning that stunts women's growth. Its tone is both gentle and unsettling, mirroring the way oppression is often masked as care.