Tuesday, September 29, 2009

No Occupation

She rises up at break of day,
And through her tasks she races;
She cooks the meal as best she may
And scrubs the children's faces;
While schoolbooks, lunches, ribbons too,
All need consideration,
And yet the census man insists
She has "no occupation."

When breakfast dishes all are done,
She bakes a pudding, maybe;
She cleans the rooms up one by one,
With one eye watching baby;
The mending pile she then attacks
By way of vatiation,
And yet the census man isists
She has "no occupation."

She irons for a little while,
Then presses pants for daddy;
She welcomes with a cheery smile
Returning lass and laddie.
A hearty dinner next she cooks
(No time for relaxation),
And yet the census man insists
She has "no occupation."

For lessons that the children learn
The evening scarce is ample;
To "mother dear" they always turn
For help with each example.
In grammar and geography
She finds her relaxation,
And yet the census man insists
She has "no occupation."

Elsie Duncan Yale

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