Domestic Work

As the speaker in “Sacred Emily” manages a household, the poem’s disjointed composition and varied repetition give the impression of the speaker’s ongoing experience of her work. Counting herself among the “Wives of great men,” the speaker disguises the endless tasks of domesticity as rest and tranquility. In other words, housework is not considered work at all. For example, the second line reads, “Wives of great men rest tranquil,” which contains a touch of irony due to the chaotic jumble of dialogue, thought, and action that follows. The very line that follows this one begins with “Come go stay,” evoking multiple actions happening simultaneously (3).

Throughout the poem, the speaker mentions household objects such as curtains, aprons, cushions, carpets, and table linen. She engages in the acts of cleaning, sewing, mending, preparing food, and cooking. In response to these endless tasks, she intones, "I...