Songs of Labor, and Other Poems

"Songs of Labor, and Other Poems" by Morris Rosenfeld is a compilation of early 20th-century poems that shines a light on the lives of toiling workers, mainly focusing on Jewish laborers. The poems express feelings of sadness, yearning, and the quest to discover who you are when faced with the difficult truths of working in factories. Reading through his work, you see the problems faced by the working class who feel like they are machines. Poems highlight the sadness and distance felt being away from family due to work. The collection speaks to the hardships of the common worker and conveys a need for understanding with a mix of personal and group sadness, all woven together with the hope of a better life.