Editor's note
Ranking is generated by Storgy's classification model, which scores each poem's thematic depth on this subject relative to the rest of the corpus. The list is re-indexed weekly as new poems enter the public-domain corpus.
Best poems about — Storgy
Work.
Twenty-five poems, ranked.
25 of the finest public-domain poems about work, ranked by thematic depth. Scored by Storgy's classification model against the rest of the corpus, and re-indexed weekly as new works enter the canon.
The leading three
01
Digging
Seamus Heaney
“A young Seamus Heaney observes his father digging in the garden and recalls his grandfather cutting turf on the bog. Suddenly, he realizes he has no spade—just…”
Open the poem
02
The Village Blacksmith
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“A village blacksmith leads a simple, diligent life—raising his children, going to church, and quietly mourning his late wife. Longfellow portrays him as a valua…”
Open the poem
03
Mowing
Robert Frost · 1913
“A farmer mows a field by himself, taking in the soft sound of his scythe cutting through the grass, and wonders what it might be "saying." The poem suggests tha…”
Open the poem
The complete index
- 04
After Apple-Picking
Robert Frost · 1914
A weary apple-picker wraps up his harvest and starts to drift off, but this poem goes beyond just fruit and tiredness. Frost captures the entire apple-picking experience — the sore…
- 05
The Chimney-Sweeps of Cheltenham
Alfred Noyes · 1922
Every spring in Cheltenham, chimney sweeps — many of whom are young boys who were once made to crawl up dark flues — don bright may-flower colors and dance through the streets. A m…
- 06
A Psalm of Life
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A Psalm of Life is Longfellow's invitation to stop dwelling on death and begin living with intention. He reminds us that life isn’t just a dream to drift through — it’s a struggle…
- 07
Aurora Leigh
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
*Aurora Leigh* is a lengthy poem in nine volumes that tells the story of a young woman determined to pursue her dream of becoming a great poet, even when the man she loves urges he…
- 08
Gaspar Becerra
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A weary artist named Gaspar Becerra has been trying to carve a flawless image of the Virgin Mary, but his vision keeps eluding him no matter how hard he works. One night, worn out…
- 09
Martha
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This short poem features Martha, Mary’s sister from the Bible, expressing her annoyance that while Mary sits and listens to Jesus, she’s left to handle all the housework. Longfello…
- 10
Michael
William Wordsworth
Michael is a narrative poem that tells the story of an elderly shepherd from the Lake District who dedicates his entire life to his land and his son, Luke. However, his hopes are s…
- 11
Song to the Men of England
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Shelley poses a straightforward yet passionate question to the working men of England: why are you putting in all the hard work while the wealthy reap the benefits of what you prod…
- 12
The Builders
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Every person is constructing something with their life — not a physical house, but a legacy shaped by their choices, habits, and daily actions. Longfellow reminds us that nothing w…
- 13
The Building of the Long Serpent
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A proud master shipbuilder named Thorberg Skafting is hired by King Olaf to create the greatest ship Norway has ever seen—twice the size of the legendary Dragon. When Thorberg secr…
- 14
The Building of the Ship
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A merchant requests a Master shipbuilder to create a magnificent vessel, and the poem traces the journey of that ship from the first timber to its launch day — coinciding with the…
- 15
The Chimney Sweeper
William Blake
A young chimney sweep shares the story of how he and his friend Tom found themselves in this perilous, dirty job — and how a vision of angels and freedom helps Tom endure another f…
- 16
The Miner
James Russell Lowell
A speaker calls himself a spiritual miner, going beyond surface-level religion and simple answers to unearth a genuine, personal experience of God. He's not concerned that this sea…
- 17
The Nurse
Charlotte Smith
Charlotte Smith's "The Nurse" is a short lyric poem that depicts an elderly woman who has devoted her life to caring for others — raising children who have now moved on and left he…
- 18
The Ropewalk
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A poet observes rope-spinners walking backward in a factory. Mesmerized by the spinning wheel, he drifts into a sequence of vivid daydreams — each linked to ropes, cords, or lines.…
- 19
The Spinning-Wheel
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This is Canto IX of Longfellow's epic poem *The Courtship of Miles Standish*, which takes place among the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. It follows John Alden as he builds his home,…
- 20
The Wound-Dresser
Walt Whitman
An old man reflects on his experience as a volunteer nurse during the Civil War, recalling not the glory of battle but the quiet, exhausting labor of tending to wounds and sitting…
- 21
Two Tramps in Mud Time
Robert Frost
A speaker is chopping wood for enjoyment on a muddy spring day when two out-of-work lumberjacks arrive, silently challenging him to give up the task. The poem uses this tense stand…
- 22
When I Consider How My Light Is Spent
John Milton
Milton wrote this sonnet after losing his sight, grappling with the fear that he could no longer serve God through his poetry. He is concerned that his talent is wasted if he can't…
- 23
Something Left Undone
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This poem captures the sense that despite our best efforts, there's always some task left undone — and this unfinished work can accumulate over time, becoming overwhelming. Longfel…
- 24
The Windmill
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A windmill shares its story, proudly describing its strength, its hunger for grain, and its constant struggle with the wind. By the end of the week, the giant that grinds and fight…
- 25
Mending Wall
Robert Frost · 1914
Every spring, two neighbors stroll along their shared fence line, fixing the stones that winter has dislodged. The speaker believes the wall is unnecessary—his apple trees aren't g…
Read deeper