A Comparison Of Overheard In County Sligo And Woman Work

Introduction:
Both Gillian Clarke's poem "Overheard in County Sligo" and Maya Angelou's "Woman Work" examine the issue of outsiders. While Angelou portrays an African American woman who strives to juggle the responsibilities of her everyday life, Clarke depicts refugees seeking asylum.
The refugees in "Overheard in County Sligo" are portrayed as outsiders who have fled their homes and are finding it difficult to acclimate. The poem emphasizes their struggles and their want for tranquility and security.”Storm, blow me from here,” (line 6) expresses the migrants' wish for a better life. They are prepared to endure the most trying circumstances in order to flee oppression and find safety elsewhere. The word "float" invokes a notion of weightlessness,

The home responsibilities placed on African American women prevent them from participating in the possibilities and freedoms others take for granted. Lines 1-4 of the poem describe the woman's daily tasks: "I've got the children to tend to/The clothes to mend/The floor to mop/The food to shop." I've got" is used often, highlighting how monotonous and arduous her responsibilities are. The usage of the word "got" further emphasizes that these tasks are not a choice but a hardship.Maya Angelou depicts the main character in "Woman Work" as an alien in her own community. The home responsibilities placed on African American women prevent them from participating in the possibilities and freedoms others take for granted. The poem expresses frustration and a longing for more liberty and equality. The phrase "I've got" is used often to highlight how monotonous and merciless the protagonist's daily tasks are. The word "got" also implies that these responsibilities are a burden rather than a choice. This brings to light the difficulties experienced by African American women who were denied access to possibilities for employment and higher education. The poem serves as a timely reminder of the value of knowledge and empathy in helping those who encounter structural obstacles to reaching their full potential.The protagonist of "Woman Work" is portrayed as an outsider who is denied the same possibilities

The main characters in both poems are outsiders who encounter difficulties.Both the lines "Fall gently, snowflakes / Cover me with white / Cold icy kisses and / Let me rest tonight" (lines 11-14 in "Woman Work") and "Shine on me, sunshine / Rain on me, rain / Fall softly, dewdrops / And cool my brow again" (lines 15-18 in "Overheard in County Sligo") express a desire for solace and peace. Maya Angelou depicts the struggle of an African American woman dealing with the responsibilities of regular household tasks in her poem "Woman Work." The speaker of the poem lists the several responsibilities she has, including cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and taking care of her children. The phrase "I've got" is used often to highlight how serious these obligations are and how little control or agency the speaker has over the situation.Angelou underlines the speaker's need for a moment of solace and a connection with the natural world with her use of natural images. The song's lyrics, "Shine on me, sunshine/Rain on me, rain/Fall softly, dewdrops/And cool my brow again," imply a need for solace and a reprieve from the stresses of daily life. Overall, the poems "Overheard in County Sligo" and "Woman Work" give the reader a sense of the poet's fellow outsiders' aspiration for a better life and their