rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens
i am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
prepar'd to scrub the entry and the stairs
love set off like a fat gold watch
mouth open
all night long his lordship's notorious breath
moves in my ears
in the early morning
throwing off the light covers
feet on the cold floor
betty stumbling from her master's bed has flown
softly stole to discompose her own
cow heavy and floral in a victorian nightgown
a splash of water on the face here and there
brickdust moll in muddy skirts
whirl'd her mop with dext'rous airs
in shriller notes scream'd through half a street
the clear vowels rose like balloons
school boys slip-shod youth
stand round blankly as walls
why do we bother
ruddy morn's voices buzzing
sprinkles of pink roses among an aimless smile
on the face from a passer-by out there
this is the best
Mid Week Motif - Poets United
Poems: Provided complete on this blog. Click Rall.
Morning At the Window - T S Eliot
Morning Song - Sylvia Plath
Morning - Billy Collins
A Description Of The Morning - Jonathan Swift
Be glad, I think, that his lordship's notorious breath doesn't move in your nostrils!
ReplyDeleteOh, the myriad scenes of the morning hustle and bustle viewed from every corner are so well portrayed in your words.
ReplyDeleteI liked this bit particularly with its invocation of sounds: "in shriller notes scream'd through half a street/the clear vowels rose like balloons".
Those poor servant girls had no choice. They did not have the right to say NO to the master.The consequences were to be thrown out into the street.If they became pregnant they were thrown out anyway and had to survive by prostitution.
ReplyDeleteYou draw an unforgettable picture of them, moving from work to bed to street: "love set off like a fat gold watch
ReplyDeletemouth open"--waiting for disaster to strike one way or another. Sad, rushed early morning, with such a little time to put oneself together again. This is such a surprising piece, making the history of oppression so real.
She came alive for me with "cow heavy and floral in a Victorian nightgown." Very cool vignettes.
ReplyDeleteThis is powerfully vivid and poignant. Especially like; "sprinkles of pink roses among an aimless smile."💞
ReplyDeleteThe use and abuse of women is a constant theme throughout history; all because men are jealous of womens ability to give birth to a new generation; whereas their contribution is so little. But things will change soon at more women gain power, pity I won't be here to see it!
ReplyDeleteThese snippets of morning seem to come from a faraway time. I would love to think "rattling" as a protest note.
ReplyDeleteI love how you’ve captured the hustle and bustle of a Victorian morning, from downstairs to upstairs!
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time on a Victorian morning . . . Wonderful, vivid poem that comes together beautifully.
ReplyDelete