2004 R.D. Ellison

Lowell Girls

They feed the thread into the machine that thrums and causes marrow-hums

From well-formed hands immaculately kept and framed by buttoned collars.

They've done this and do this and will do this as the work stead'ly becomes

One with those whose minds were taken captive by a sore lack of dollars.

All the same as her neighobr and her neighbor beyond and beyond does

Free from the farm's death, straight-backed and decorous amidst the din

Believing the whorls' finished product churned out is her life because

Too late each will realize it's her own life which she so tidily feeds in.