“Woman Work” by Maya Angelou – Depicting Tough Life of a Woman

Maya Angelou’s “Woman Work” is a powerful poem that portrays the demanding life of a woman, likely a working-class woman of color, who is burdened by the endless tasks of domestic and physical labor. The poem begins by cataloging her relentless chores, reflecting the overwhelming weight of responsibilities, and transitions into a plea for solace and connection with nature. Angelou contrasts the suffocating demands of human-made obligations with the healing power of the natural world. The poem serves as both a critique of societal expectations placed on women and an homage to their resilience.

“Woman Work” Poem by Maya Angelou

Line-by-Line Meaning of Woman Work Poem by Maya Angelou

Stanza 1 – Woman Work Poem – (The Overwhelming Chores)

1. “I’ve got the children to tend / The clothes to mend”
   • The speaker begins by listing her responsibilities as a caregiver and homemaker. She must care for her children and repair clothing, symbolic of her nurturing and practical roles.
2. “The floor to mop / The food to shop”
   • These lines emphasize the endless physical labor required to maintain her home, showing the monotony of domestic work.
3. “Then the chicken to fry / The baby to dry”
   • She shifts between cooking and childcare, highlighting how her tasks are relentless and interconnected.
4. “I got company to feed / The garden to weed”
   • Her responsibilities extend beyond her immediate family, suggesting the societal expectation that women must accommodate others, often at the expense of their own needs.
5. “I’ve got shirts to press / The tots to dress”
   • This reiterates her role as both homemaker and caregiver. “Tots” refers to her children, whom she must prepare for life.
6. “The can to be cut / I gotta clean up this hut”
   • “The can to be cut” may refer to preparing preserved food or other domestic chores. “Hut” suggests a modest home, emphasizing her economic challenges.
7. “Then see about the sick / And the cotton to pick.”
   • These lines suggest she not only cares for family and home but also works outside, possibly in agricultural labor, reflecting her tireless effort.

Stanza 2 – Woman Work Poem– (A Cry for Relief)

8. “Shine on me, sunshine / Rain on me, rain”
   • After the exhausting first stanza, the speaker turns to nature for comfort and rejuvenation, asking for its healing touch.
9. “Fall softly, dewdrops / And cool my brow again.”
   • The dewdrops symbolize a gentle reprieve, cooling her from the physical and emotional heat of her demanding life.

Stanza 3 – Woman Work Poem – (Desiring Escape)

10. “Storm, blow me from here / With your fiercest wind”
    • The speaker desires to escape her overwhelming life, asking the storm to whisk her away with its power.
11. “Let me float across the sky / ‘Til I can rest again.”
    • Floating represents freedom and detachment from earthly burdens. She yearns for rest and relief.

Stanza 4 – Woman Work Poem – (Seeking Comfort in Nature)

12. “Fall gently, snowflakes / Cover me with white”
    • Snowflakes represent peace and purity, suggesting she wants to be enveloped in tranquility and rest.
13. “Cold icy kisses and / Let me rest tonight.”
    • The coldness of snow offers a soothing embrace, contrasting with the heat of her labor and providing an opportunity for peace.

Stanza 5 – (Nature as Refuge)

14. “Sun, rain, curving sky / Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone”
    • The speaker lists elements of nature, emphasizing its vastness, beauty, and simplicity compared to the chaos of her daily life.
15. “Star shine, moon glow / You’re all that I can call my own.”
    • Nature becomes her only solace and possession, contrasting with the demands of her human world, where she has no control or ownership.

Summary of the Poem “Woman Work”

Maya Angelou’s “Woman Work” is a striking depiction of the endless labor and responsibilities faced by women, especially women of color. The poem begins with a relentless catalog of chores, symbolizing the overwhelming demands of domestic and physical labor. However, as the poem progresses, the speaker turns to nature as a source of comfort and escape. She finds solace in the sun, rain, snow, and other natural elements, which provide her with a sense of peace and ownership that her daily life cannot offer.

The poem reflects themes of resilience, the societal burden placed on women, and the healing power of nature. Angelou contrasts the suffocating weight of human obligations with the liberating and nurturing qualities of the natural world.

List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

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