Marge Piercy, whose oeuvre includes novels, poetry, essays, short stories, and drama, is increasingly recognized as a prominent writer in the United States. Born on March 31, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan, Piercy comes from a working-class background. Piercy's poetic roots can be traced back to Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. Allen Ginsberg had an impact on her writing in the 1950s, and in the 1960s Piercy was influenced by black poets. Marge Piercy's work is worth exploring both for its challenging political perspectives and for its formal and structural aspects. Sometimes compared to the work of Doris Lessing, Piercy's writings are often feminist, and her poetry often deals with political issues (such as the American occupation of Iraq). Jewish thought is increasingly important in her work. Brimming with a varied and subtly delineated gallery of characters, Piercy's work has been part of a rite de passage for many readers in their personal and spiritual development. Moving along Dionysian rather than Apollonian lines, Marge Piercy's work is passionate, witty, and vitally alive.