Checklist

Dunn, Stephen

Primary Category: Literature / Poetry

Genre: Poem

Annotated by:
Aull, Felice
  • Date of entry: Feb-15-1996
  • Last revised: Jan-09-2007

Summary

This short poem is about work--all kinds of work--and what it takes out of us--physically, emotionally, spiritually: "All the work / that makes love difficult . . . that reaches the intestines and sprawls."

Commentary

An interesting poem to discuss with a group of professionals or professionals-in-training, some of whom will deny that this view of work applies to them. Most, however, will admit to finding something recognizable here. For much of the working world, as well for most homemakers, isn't this, after all, the way life is? And don't those who care for sick people need to understand this?

Primary Source

Work and Love

Publisher

Carnegie Mellon Univ. Press

Place Published

Pittsburgh

Edition

1981