Oyster Shucking - Factory Girls

Cassie58

look at the dark subdued eyes 

and grubby faces of three children 

not a trace of a smile between them 

 

pretty little girls who work at 

the cannery shucking oysters from 

shells prised open with knives 

 

outside the factory gates 

the year is 1911, the photographer 

harvests hardship in monochrome 

 

stark poverty stares back 

lives drained in the same way the

photographic image is devoid of colour 

 

smock dresses torn filthy and patched 

ill fitting laced boots yet it’s their hands 

those calloused little hands 

 

wrapped in bandages, knotted ties 

round small gashed fingers 

that hurt and cry out most of all 

 

  • Author: Cassie58 (Offline Offline)
  • Published: November 28th, 2024 04:27
  • Comment from author about the poem: How hard life was for eleven year olds.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 44
  • Users favorite of this poem: Teddy.15, rin, Cheeky Missy
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Comments12

  • Teddy.15

    You know when I was 15 I worked in a fishmongers in Granville arcade in Brixton London, my hands were so ugly full of cuts from fish spines and black with the wrapping of the paper we used I used to clean fillet and wrap, even though my hands were terribly ugly I absolutely loved my job. I feel for those young souls who had such a job so young. 🌹

    • Cassie58

      Hello Teddy, we all had jobs back then didn’t we:) As a schoolgirl I worked Saturdays in Woolworth’s. One Christmas it was so busy, I had blisters on my feet:) Hardwork, but we laughed. The kids in this photo were 11. It was a heartbreaker, but not uncommon in those days. Unkempt and ragged. Pour souls. Thank you dear Teddy. 🌹

    • rin

      There is no developed country where children are allowed to work, but this is a valuable picture that tells us that it was the same everywhere more than 100 years ago.
      Even today, some developing countries still rely on child labor.
      I think it is a very good poem. The choice of words also conveys to the reader in a straightforward manner.

      • Cassie58

        Thanking you for the read rin. Fortunately we have made progress in many areas in the world, but not enough. Hard looking at those little faces and their calloused and cut hands and fingers.

      • 2781

        My mother was one of five children. The family were fishermen and oyster farmers. Everyone works from the age of six. Not sure what a six year old does but they were trained well.
        My mother bought seven properties with an oyster knife.
        Tough life? Possibly but that's what they knew.

        • Cassie58

          Thank you for your interesting share. So pleased that your mother was more fortunate than the little girls depicted in my poem. Yes, tough lives. Some have them. Whereabouts was your mother located at the time?

          • 2781

            Hawkesbury River, born 1932

            • Cassie58

              These kids were in the slums of London. Good things worked out for your Mother: Happy Thanksgiving.

              • 2781

                That's true, wasn't the money though she gave most of it away.

              • arqios

                I could only imagine though on one tropical holiday I was like Rambo by the Oceanside, sitting in the rocky beach hunting knife in hand shucking oysters and straight into the gullet, lunch al fresco. Got a few cuts as well, they are quite sharp, the shells and the rocks. So I can imagine a life of nothing but shucking could be quite shocking. I can feel the sharp stinging rawness of the cuts now… courtesy of part-hypochondriac and interactive memory. Solid poem here Cassie, a journey no less! 👍🏻👍🏻

                • Cassie58

                  Thanks for the smile. I hope Rambo enjoyed his Al fresco lunch. Never tried oysters, so I don’t know what it’s like to prise open the shells. The little girls had cuts. Sounds as though you suffered to. Pleased this came across as a solid poem.

                • Doggerel Dave

                  It bought back learned images of boys up chimneys and the matchstick girls... glad we are more socially conscious today....now we just deny them proper shelter....
                  Good call, Cassie

                  • Cassie58

                    What terribly hard lives those little kids had and then they had illnesses like TB to contend with. You are so right about the lack of housing today, it stinks. I have three grown up kids still at home. No sign of them going anywhere. Thanks Dave for stopping by.

                  • Neville



                    Incredible ink Cassie .. I know I've said it before but if I had faves then this one would be very near the top .. Your pal me .. 💜

                    • Cassie58

                      What a lovely review Neville. You couldn’t have said anything better. I am blushing. Thank you so much 💜

                    • Thad Wilk

                      A really poignant and
                      touching poem and
                      sadly true happening! 😞
                      A hauntingly vivid
                      reminder, sadly
                      child labor still exists
                      in parts of the world
                      still today! 😢
                      Thanks for sharing poetess!
                      Best wishes 🍀🤗🌹🐦 Thad

                      • Cassie58

                        Many thanks Thad, yes sadly you are right. Child labor still exists. The eleven year olds in my poem were from the slums in London. Always good to get a visit from you. All the best. Have a great day.

                      • rebellion_in_sanity

                        I found the poem to be visceral...crossed the bounds of cerebral and hit something beyond it. The line "the photographer
                        harvests hardship in monochrome " ... magical

                        • Cassie58

                          Thank you so much for your visit. Pleased to know you found something magical in my writing. A lovely compliment. All good wishes.

                        • Goldfinch60

                          It certainly was a hard life back then Cassie. When I was in senior school I used to work on Saturdays and my holidays in Victor Values, a supermarket back in the day, it was hard work but the staff and camaraderie was wonderful.

                          Andy

                          • Cassie58

                            Andy I remember Victor Values from way back. My mum used to shop there. Thank you for the smile. Have a great day.

                          • jim56

                            love this tells it own story
                            how used to be in days gone by
                            reminds a bit like the film oliver
                            and how different the world is now
                            tho poverty is still there
                            good read emotional and true
                            excellent write from a very talented writer

                            • Cassie58

                              Thank you Jim, yes sad when you see how hard our youngsters had it years ago. Their poor little faces said it all. Yet even to this day, there is child labor in some parts of the world. I appreciate your support for my efforts. Hope you are having a good day.

                              • jim56

                                enjoyed your poem great read
                                like you say it still goes on in some places
                                in the world. you are worth supporting
                                you are a very talented writer
                                dont ever stop. keep warm keep safe keep writing jim xx

                              • sorenbarrett

                                Cassie, this is poetic indeed it has several wonderful lines“ harvest hardship in monochrome “ Is my favorite. Other poetic inferences add depth to this poem. The draining of color from the picture as the draining of lives that are in it. Then there is the last line the analogy of the small hurt fingers that cry out just as the small children do beautiful

                                • Cassie58

                                  Your lovely review Soren warms me. Thank you. Especially the points you have specially picked out. They were the ones I liked best as well. Your thoughts are highly valued.

                                • NafisaSB

                                  thank heavens that those days are a dark distant memory - it was such a hard life for these little angels..
                                  and yet, there is still child labour existing in some developing countries.. hope it disappears altoghether



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