The man with the hoe, and other poems

** "The Man with the Hoe, and Other Poems" by Edwin Markham is a collection of poems from the late 1800s exploring ideas of fairness in society, what it means to be human, and the hard lives of working people. Markham uses his poems to criticize how industrial growth can strip people of their humanity and highlights the suffering of laborers with strong images and words. The poem "The Man with the Hoe" is about a worker burdened by both his job and a feeling of hopelessness, representing many struggling workers. Throughout the book, Markham uses metaphors and personification to talk about unity, love, and finding purpose while suffering. Poems like "Brotherhood" and "A Prayer" stress the need for kindness and connection, while others show the beauty of nature alongside human struggles; this collection encourages readers to think deeply about the meaning of work, life, and the desire for a fair world. **