George Robinson: Blues - Essay Example

“Did you ever bury thirty-five men in a place in the back of your house/thirty-five tunnel workers the doctors didn't attend/ died in the tunnel camps, under rocks, everywhere, world/ without end” (9) ironically portray how inhuman the tunnel workers are looked upon. It is very clear that the tunnel workers are commodities looked upon only for utility and when they turn sick and not fit to work and turn over a profit, the authorities step in only to remove them from the job. George says, “when he couldn't keep going barely/the Cap and company come and run him off the job surely” (15).

The poet has depicted the social picture of the tunnel workers in the voice of an activist. Work CitedLowney, John. “Modern American Poetry On "George Robinson: Blues". 1999. 13 Apr. 2009. <http://www.english.illinois.edu/MAPS/poets/m_r/rukeyser/georgerobinsonblues.htm> Rukeyser, Muriel. “George Robinson: Blues”. 13 Apr. 2009. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=180102> Thurston, Michael. “Biographical Sketch.” 1999. 13 Apr. 2009. <http://www.english.illinois.

edu/Maps/poets/m_r/rukeyser/bio.htm>