Poetry · Chapter
Workin’ Man explained
A hardworking man describes his exhausting labor with a pick and shovel, returning home to a dilapidated hovel and a woman who neglects him despite his efforts to treat her well, leaving him feeling exploited and unloved.
What happens
A hardworking man describes his exhausting labor with a pick and shovel, returning home to a dilapidated hovel and a woman who neglects him despite his efforts to treat her well, leaving him feeling exploited and unloved.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in the final line, "Tell them to leave you alone!..."—a raw, defiant outburst that s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Poverty and Class Struggle
The speaker's grueling labor and squalid living conditions highlight the cycle of poverty and the struggle for dignity.
- Love and Loss
The speaker's unreciprocated love and the betrayal by his partner underscore a profound sense of loss and emotional isolation.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker, a hardworking man who labors all day and feels betrayed by his partner.
Key passages
“I works all day Wid a pick an’ a shovel. Comes home at night— It ain’t nothin’ but a hovel.”
I labor all day with a pick and shovel, only to return at night to a miserable shack.
Highlights the stark contrast between hard work and poor living conditions.
“I’m a hard workin’ man An’ I sho pays double Cause I tries to be good An’ gits nothin’ but trouble.”
I am a diligent worker who pays a heavy price for trying to do right, yet I receive only hardship in return.
Expresses the speaker's frustration and sense of injustice despite his efforts.
