A mother's hardest to forgive. Life is the fruit she longs to hand you Ripe on a plate. And while you live, Relentlessly she understands you.

Sylvia Plath wrote in her journal “Phyllis McGinley is out – light verse: Phyllis McGinley’s sold herself” (Leroy 14-15). They married on June 25 1937 and moved to Larchmont New York. Awards and honors
McGinley was elected to the National Academy of Arts and Letters in 1955.

Time Magazine featured McGinley on its cover on June 18 1965. Her poetry was in the style of light verse specializing in humor satiric tone and the positive aspects of suburban life.