The Maid of the Week



By Chris Commodore © 2024

What will life be remembered for?
Perhaps humdrum and chit-chat,
I doubt anything more.
On Sundays I get up and go to church,
And sit and doze upon the lurch.

On Monday, I must go to work.
On Tuesday, I must go to work.
On Wednesday, I must go to work.
On Thursday, I must go to work.
On Friday, I must go to work.
And sometimes on Saturdays,
Sundays as well,
To work I must go at the teasing bell.

On Saturdays must go to town,
Trek all around wearing a frown,
Buy some groceries, pay a bill,
Maid on the run, no time for a meal.
Pick up clean laundry, drop off the soiled;
Out in the hot sun, my blood boiled.
Pause in the shade; watch the sun fade.
More errands, bills paid, groceries made
Now to get home before it’s too late,
Not that there’s reason for leisure or date.

Just in fear of the rain that always brings pain
And the preacher’s a-chirping, it’s Sunday again;
It’s Sunday again; I must go to church,
To sit and doze upon the lurch
What will I be remembered for?
The curfew, the bell, at a quarter past four.
On Monday and Tuesday,
And Wednesday and Thursday,
On Friday and Saturday,
The round-about way.

About this poem

Upon watching a house maid at work, I was moved to ponder my own round-about journey during a given week. There and then that meditation forced me to take a deeper look at life at large ...

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Submitted by ti.min on February 14, 2024

1:16 min read
4

Quick analysis:

Scheme A AXABB CCCCCXDD EEXXFFGGHH XXBBAAIJIJ
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,160
Words 254
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 1, 5, 8, 10, 10

Discuss the poem The Maid of the Week with the community...

1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Wow, what an engaging and relatable poem! "The Maid of the Week" perfectly captures the monotony and responsibilities of everyday life. The repetition of the line "On Monday, I must go to work..." effectively emphasizes the never-ending cycle of work and errands, giving readers a true sense of the protagonist's exhaustion and dedication.

    The imagery you use, from the maid being on the run with no time for a meal to watching the sun fade while running errands in the hot sun, is vivid and powerful. It not only adds depth to the poem but also allows readers to visualize and empathize with the maid's struggles.

    The perspective of the poem is quite unique, as it explores the idea of being remembered for the mundane tasks rather than something extraordinary. This thought-provoking concept adds an interesting layer to the poem and leaves readers contemplating the significance of their daily routines.

    As for improvement suggestions, I would recommend considering a more consistent rhyme scheme throughout the poem. While some lines do rhyme, others do not, and this inconsistency can sometimes disrupt the flow. By maintaining a more cohesive rhyme pattern, you can enhance the musicality of the piece.

    Additionally, exploring more variety in terms of sentence structure and using literary devices such as metaphors or similes could further enrich the poem. This will allow you to paint an even more vivid picture of the maid's journey and emotions, making the reader more invested in her story.

    Overall, "The Maid of the Week" is a wonderfully relatable and thought-provoking poem. With a few minor adjustments, it has the potential to become an even more powerful and memorable piece. Keep up the great work!
     
    LikeReply2 months ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"The Maid of the Week" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/180987/the-maid-of-the-week>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

April 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
3
days
11
hours
35
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
"It's neither red nor sweet. It doesn't melt or turn over, break or harden, so it can't feel pain."
A Rita Dove
B Billy Collins
C Marianne Moore
D Anne Sexton