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Shamus

EN

CN

2020.05.27 12:27

Song of the Shirt by Thomas Hood.

Part 4 of 6.

"Work—work

—work!
From weary chime to chime,
Work—work—work,
As prisoners work for crime!
Band, and gusset, and seam,
Seam, and gusset, and band,
Till the heart is sick, and the brain benumbed,
As well as the weary hand.

"Work—work—work,
In the dull December light,
And work—work—work,
When the weather is warm and bright—
While underneath the eaves
The brooding swallows cling
As if to show me their sunny backs
And twit me with the spring.
77 9

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Comments

  • 四月 2020.05.27 12:31

    CN
    EN

    My first thought was that work by Rihanna😂
  • Shamus 2020.05.27 12:37

    EN
    CN

    @四月 I wish there wasn't this association. 😂
  • Shamus 2020.05.27 12:38

    EN
    CN

    The following information about this poem is from Wikipedia: It was written in honour of a Mrs. Biddell, a widow and seamstress living in wretched conditions. In what was, at that time, common practice, Mrs. Biddell sewed trousers and shirts in her home using materials given to her by her employer for which she was forced to give a £2 deposit. In a desperate attempt to feed her starving infants, Mrs. Biddell pawned the clothing she had made, thus accruing a debt she could not pay. Mrs. Biddell, whose first name has not been recorded, was sent to a workhouse, and her ultimate fate is unknown; however, her story became a catalyst for those who actively opposed the wretched conditions of England’s working poor, who often spent seven days a week labouring under inhumane conditions, barely managing to survive and with no prospect for relief. Thank you for listening. 🙏💔
  • Aisha 2020.05.27 12:59

    AR
    JP

    I'm trying with the second part right now 😂 i liked this poem
  • Dina 2020.05.27 13:39

    AR
    EN

    @四月 me tooo😂😂😂😂
  • Lydia 2020.05.27 13:41

    RU
    EN

    DE

    I might send it to my manager, he-he... 😄
  • Shamus 2020.05.27 13:51

    EN
    CN

    @Lydia Do it. 😂😂😂😂
  • Shamus 2020.05.27 13:51

    EN
    CN

    @Aisha Good luck! 😄
  • 四月 2020.05.27 14:06

    CN
    EN

    @Dina haha that song is pretty good tho

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