Haiku Poems about Factory Life in the Mills: First Hour

My 8th Grade Historians have been learning about life in Northern factories during the Industrial Revolution. The task today is to create haiku poems about factory life. This life was exciting for these children but was also very dangerous. Many girls worked in the mills because it was their only chance for independence in society and provided the opportunity to earn good money for themselves and contribute financially to their families. 

I would post these poems in the hallway but our hallways are currently being painted so this blog will be our display board for some of the the creative work my students have written today.

Working day and night

risking my life for money

little time to rest.

~Abby

No windows open

almost like stuck in summer

just trapped in, not out.

~Abby

Hot like the summer

lives falling away like leaves

as sad as winter.

~Oliver

Two books ain't enough

boarding takes half of my pay

the strikes haven't worked.

~Oliver

In summer it starts

each moment stifling hot

working to survive.

~Priyal

Leaves begin, like work

but leaves fall, dead to the ground

life my life does not.

~Priyal

Harsh like the winter

humid rooms like the summer

is it worth the pay?

~Morgan

Cotton cut fingers

offered money for young girls

deafening machines.

~Morgan

Where a mill girl starves

is forty six bucks enough?

choose what you will carve.

~Yuvi

Working in a mill

Lucy had fun with her job

although it was harsh.

~Olivia

Hot, stuffy, humid

factories are like summer

except without fun.

~Jason

Lowell girls started

at very young ages to

make money to live.

~Jackson

Young girls working hard

waking up very early

bad work area.

~Tessy

Working for low wages

very high risk of death

work fourteen hours.

~Jack

Start at four thirty

lunch at twelve o'clock pm

end at six thirty.

~Jack

Threads spinning

regretful decision

bruised hands throbbing

~Chloe

Hours of labor

passing through time working

seasons change while working.

~Chloe

Summer, fall working

Winter, spring weaving the string

just one buck per week.

~Laura

Sad and dangerous

unhealthy air, nobody cares

no wages for me.

~Laura

Lowell mill is cold

and as harsh as Michigan's 

very cold winter.

~Donald

All the girls worked hard

if their hair was caught they die.

Life was hard like winter.

~Joshmita

So many young girls

got their own money to use

conditions not good.

~Irie

AL windows shut tight

no sunlight for the young girls

just like summer there

~Irie