Work and Labor

Themes of physical toil, craftsmanship (as in 'The Axe-Helve'), and the dignity or disgrace of work are central, contrasting honest labor with the shame of selling.

The chapter centers on the craft of making an axe-helve, the physical labor of chopping wood, and the pride Baptiste takes in his work.

The poem centers on the physical and emotional labor of grinding a blade, exploring the tension between effort, control, and the cost of perfection.

The speaker's business with 'different trees' and the mention of axe work on maples, birches, and tamaracks underscores the labor involved in tending to the land.

The grim duty of war is portrayed as a repetitive, laborious task that both the soldier and his wife must endure.