'Domestic Work, 1937' by Natasha Trethewey
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
All week she's cleaned
someone else's house,
stared down her own face
in the shine of copper--
bottomed pots, polished
wood, toilets she'd pull
the lid to--that look saying
Let's make a change, girl.
But Sunday mornings are hers--
church clothes starched
and hanging, a record spinning
on the console, the whole house
dancing. She raises the shades,
washes the rooms in light,
buckets of water, Octagon soap.
Cleanliness is next to godliness ...
Windows and doors flung wide,
curtains two-stepping
forward and back, neck bones
bumping in the pot, a choir
of clothes clapping on the line.
Nearer my God to Thee ...
She beats time on the rugs,
blows dust from the broom
like dandelion spores, each one
a wish for something better.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Domestic Work, 1937 by Natasha Trethewey
The first time I stumbled upon Natasha Trethewey's "Domestic Work, 1937" was in my college literature class. I remember vividly how the poem captured my attention and held it until the very end. The powerful imagery, the vivid descriptions, and the emotional depth of the poem left me in awe. Over the years, I have revisited the poem countless times, each time discovering new layers of meaning and beauty.
At its core, "Domestic Work, 1937" is a poem about the lives of domestic workers in the South during the Jim Crow era. The poem is divided into five parts, each focusing on a different aspect of domestic work. The first part describes the daily routine of the domestic worker, starting at dawn and ending at dusk. The second part describes the relationship between the domestic worker and her employer, highlighting the power dynamics at play. The third part is a lament for the lost dreams and aspirations of the domestic worker. The fourth part is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the domestic worker. The fifth and final part is a call to remember the forgotten lives of domestic workers and to honor their contributions to society.
One of the things that struck me about the poem was the way Trethewey uses imagery to convey the harsh realities of domestic work. In the first part of the poem, for example, she writes:
She rises early, slipping
her way between great-aunt's snores
and hums, rekindles the fire in kitchen stove,
kneads flour, measures meal-for the day.
The image of the domestic worker slipping between her great-aunt's snores and hums is both intimate and jarring. It highlights the cramped living conditions that many domestic workers had to endure, sharing small rooms with family members. The image of rekindling the fire in the kitchen stove is also evocative, conjuring up images of hard labor and never-ending chores. The use of the word "kneads" suggests a physicality to the work that is both demanding and relentless.
In the second part of the poem, Trethewey uses imagery to highlight the power dynamics between the domestic worker and her employer. She writes:
She is a woman who takes orders,
a maid in someone else's house.
She moons over the dinner dishes
glistening in the drainer,
presses linens with bone-cold hands.
The use of the word "orders" immediately establishes the hierarchical relationship between the domestic worker and her employer. The image of the domestic worker "mooning over the dinner dishes" suggests a wistfulness and longing, as if she is yearning for a life beyond her current circumstances. The use of the phrase "bone-cold hands" is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the physical toll that domestic work took on women's bodies.
The third part of the poem is a lament for the lost dreams and aspirations of the domestic worker. Trethewey writes:
She dreams of college,
a library of books,
a husband who will give her
a silk dress and a home
with a yard, fruit trees.
The use of the word "dreams" highlights the fact that these aspirations were often unattainable for women of color during this time period. The image of a "library of books" is particularly powerful, as it speaks to the desire for education and intellectual stimulation. The image of a "silk dress and a home with a yard, fruit trees" is also poignant, as it highlights the domestic worker's desire for material comfort and stability.
The fourth part of the poem is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the domestic worker. Trethewey writes:
She knows how to make something
from nothing:
cake from cornmeal,
bread from flour and water.
The use of the phrase "make something from nothing" speaks to the resourcefulness and ingenuity of domestic workers. The image of cake made from cornmeal and bread made from flour and water is a testament to their ability to create sustenance from meager resources. The phrase "knows how" also suggests that this knowledge was passed down from generation to generation, highlighting the importance of communal knowledge and support.
The fifth and final part of the poem is a call to remember the forgotten lives of domestic workers and to honor their contributions to society. Trethewey writes:
Remember the hands
that sewed the seams
of the clothes you wear
and the linens you sleep in.
The use of the word "remember" is particularly powerful, as it calls attention to the fact that the contributions of domestic workers have often been overlooked and forgotten. The image of hands sewing seams is evocative, as it highlights the physical labor that went into creating clothing and linens. The use of the word "you" also suggests that this is a collective responsibility, that we all have a duty to remember and honor the contributions of those who came before us.
In conclusion, "Domestic Work, 1937" is a powerful and deeply moving poem that speaks to the resilience, strength, and dignity of domestic workers during the Jim Crow era. Through the use of evocative imagery and poignant language, Trethewey captures the harsh realities of domestic work and the lost dreams and aspirations of those who performed it. The poem is a call to remember and honor the forgotten lives of domestic workers, and to recognize the important contributions that they made to society. It is a testament to the power of poetry to give voice to the voiceless and to bear witness to the struggles and triumphs of those who have been marginalized and oppressed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Domestic Work, 1937: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Natasha Trethewey's Domestic Work, 1937 is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of domestic labor and the lives of African American women in the early 20th century. The poem is a masterpiece of poetry that combines vivid imagery, powerful language, and a deep understanding of the human experience to create a work that is both moving and thought-provoking.
The poem is set in the 1930s, a time when African American women were often relegated to domestic work, serving as maids, cooks, and cleaners in the homes of white families. Trethewey's poem captures the daily struggles and challenges faced by these women, as well as the emotional toll that their work took on them.
The poem begins with a description of the domestic worker's daily routine, as she wakes up early in the morning to begin her work. The language used in this section of the poem is simple and straightforward, reflecting the monotony and routine of the worker's life. However, as the poem progresses, the language becomes more complex and evocative, reflecting the emotional depth of the worker's experiences.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Trethewey uses vivid and powerful images to convey the physical and emotional toll of domestic work. For example, she describes the worker's hands as "raw and cracked," a powerful image that conveys the physical strain of the work. She also describes the worker's exhaustion, using the image of a "heavy iron" that she carries with her throughout the day.
Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the worker's "white lady," the woman for whom she works. Trethewey uses this image to explore the complex power dynamics that exist between the domestic worker and her employer. The "white lady" is both a symbol of the worker's subservience and a reminder of the racial and class divisions that exist in society.
Throughout the poem, Trethewey also explores the emotional toll of domestic work. She describes the worker's feelings of isolation and loneliness, as well as her longing for a better life. The poem is filled with powerful and poignant moments, such as when the worker imagines herself as a bird, flying away from her life of domestic servitude.
One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is its use of language. Trethewey's language is both simple and complex, reflecting the complexity of the worker's experiences. She uses simple, straightforward language to describe the worker's daily routine, but she also uses more complex language to explore the emotional depth of the worker's experiences.
For example, she uses the word "sorrow" to describe the worker's feelings of loneliness and isolation. This simple word conveys a powerful emotional depth, capturing the worker's sense of despair and hopelessness. Similarly, she uses the word "yearning" to describe the worker's longing for a better life, a word that conveys a sense of longing and desire that is both powerful and poignant.
In conclusion, Domestic Work, 1937 is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the complexities of domestic labor and the lives of African American women in the early 20th century. Through its use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and a deep understanding of the human experience, the poem captures the daily struggles and emotional toll of domestic work. It is a work that is both moving and thought-provoking, and it stands as a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity and depth of the human experience.
Editor Recommended Sites
Learn Terraform: Learn Terraform for AWS and GCPTimeseries Data: Time series data tutorials with timescale, influx, clickhouse
Best Online Courses - OCW online free university & Free College Courses: The best online courses online. Free education online & Free university online
Learn Snowflake: Learn the snowflake data warehouse for AWS and GCP, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Graph Database Shacl: Graphdb rules and constraints for data quality assurance
Recommended Similar Analysis
Elegiac Stanzas by William Wordsworth analysisNight is Darkening Around Me, The by Emily Jane Brontë analysis
Troilus And Criseyde: Book 01 by Geoffrey Chaucer analysis
The Lifeguard by James Dickey analysis
Volcanoes be in Sicily by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Jacket by Rudyard Kipling analysis
MCMXIV by Philip Larkin analysis
Poppies In October by Sylvia Plath analysis
Two by Carl Sandburg analysis
To Andromeda by Sappho analysis