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| Image courtesy of Cowans Auctions, WPA Era Street Scene, by Carl Nyquist, (1888-1959) |
Quittin’ Time
We wait along the trolley track:
To work, to home…one way, then
back.
We work all day to earn our dime...
right now, you see, it’s quittin’
time.
Each secretary, each shop clerk
all through the week, go off to
work.
Sometimes it seems an uphill
climb.
Right now, for us, it’s quittin’
time.
The New Deal, says the president,
improves lives of each resident,
so all must do their part, but I’m,
right now, quite glad it’s
quittin’ time.
We wait along the trolley track:
right now, you see, it’s quittin’
time.
###
Notes: The form is Kyrielle Sonnet. The poem was inspired by Sepia Saturday's prompt of 'work.' The first thing which came to mind, based on their photograph, was the 1930s Depression and the New Deal. With that in mind, I looked up posters and artwork from the WPA, an example of which is above.
There has been many a job I have had in my lifetime when I had been glad when it was quittin' time. But joy was those rare jobs when you could lose track of time and where the line between work and pleasure disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to your Sepia Saturday poems. It's a great way to round out the posts of photos.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your poem as usual.
ReplyDeleteA sonnet! Glad to see a sonnet. I was looking at a photo the other day of shipyard workers waiting for the bus to go home at quittin' time. They filled the sidewalks -- probably many of the workers had to wait quite a while to get a spot on the bus. They would certainly relate to this poem.
ReplyDeleteI love your poem. So perfect for the working theme. What's better than working than watching the clock and counting the minutes till it's time to go home.
ReplyDeleteNancy
You are so talented! I'm impressed with your poems every week. Like the WPA poster also.
ReplyDeleteYet another wonderfully apt poem. Is that F W Woolworths in the picture do you think?
ReplyDeleteA poem about my favorite time of day, aside from sunrise, of course!! Much enjoyed this. Thanx 4 sharing!!
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ