Changing the World One Haiku at a Time Series
factory girls
crammed shoulder to shoulder
Bread and Roses ...
Note: The phrase “Bread and Roses” originated in a speech given by Rose Schneiderman, and a line in that speech – “The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too” -- inspired the title of the poem, "Bread and Roses," by James Oppenheim, which was published in The American Magazine in December 1911. “Bread and Roses” was set to music by Mimi Fariña in the 1970s, and it has become an anthem for labor rights, and especially for the rights of working women.
Updated, May 2:
Quotation of the Day (
The New York Times, Thursday, May 2, 2013)
This is called slave labor.
POPE FRANCIS, on garment workers in Bangladesh earning about $40 a month.
Updated, May 3:
Bangladesh factory collapse: Loblaw to audit structural safety of suppliers’ buildings (
Toronto Star)
Here in Canada, Galen Weston, executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Ltd., announced Thursday that his company will send Canadian employees to monitor factories in Bangladesh where Joe Fresh clothing is made. In addition, a team of senior company officials, including supply chain experts, will travel there next week to discuss safety with Bangladeshi officials and unions...
Bread and Roses by James Oppenheim
As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses! ”
As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!
As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for — but we fight for roses, too!
As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler — ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!
Song Lyrics
As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!
As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.
As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.
As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.
