Red Buttons #poem

poetry and short stories 1 Minute

Open Link Night 298 – August live edition

Written for all the hard workers of the world who get no respect for what they do.

#fortheworkers

A donkey jacket is a black woolen coat traditionally worn by the laborers on British building sites and road repair crews in the winter.

Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

RED BUTTONS

Red Red buttons on black donkey jacket,

Worn by dirty faced worker with eyes of tired red,

          Both torn and tatty after a hard life

of work and toil, toil and work.

                    Who will pay their respects?

To the owner of the red buttoned black donkey jacket,

          Little respect did he receive, In his big part of this society,

                    Society will fail his without work efforts.

          His wife saying goodbye in her best yellow hat,

          But no on ever knew off him no one ever will,

          No statue will bear his name or the name of any grafter,

          Or wear the red buttoned black donkey jacket.

                              The red red buttons,

One each for the children he leaves behind,

They carry his coffin down the avenue

Of cherry and blackthorn trees in full dress of blossom,

Darkness in the hearts of fellow workers saying their goodbyes.

To the wearer of the red button black donkey jacket.

© rogleach

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Published by rog

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29 thoughts on “Red Buttons #poem”

    1. The whole jacket was worn by somebody I used to work with. His wife had replaced the normal black buttons on his jacket with some red ones one time she had to repair it.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. This is very heartbreaking and sadly accurate. When we think of the workers of the world, we neglect to realize just how they help society run. Respect is needed for everyone and you know what? I never understood why people demean others for working in the food industry or customer support, for instance. People who make our damn food at fast-food places and restaurants are generally treated like shit from management too, and add on to these views others have, it’s easy to see why people would want to quit.

    Respect is needed. It is sad that we fail to acknowledge the hard workers, the people always considered as the “little guys.” Is it so hard to grasp that we have what we need thanks to them? Sorry for the rant, but you expressed this perfectly in a beautiful, powerful poem. I also love the gothic imagery in your words. ❤

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  3. Such a moving poem. Thank you. Centuries of people like this–the needed, but usually unseen. I suppose during the pandemic we’ve found out how essential some of them are.
    The red buttons image really stands out.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. A chap I worked with had a donkey jacket which outlasted its buttons. His wife had replaced the normal black buttons with red ones. That jacket did influence the poem and so did its wearer.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I love this blue collar, red button, donkey jacket tribute. These “silent” unknown unheralded folks can send their thanks and hosannas to you, sir.

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  5. I very much enjoyed reading this rogblog666 🙂 A wonderful ode to the unsung heroes and how their toil and labour often goes unappreciated. I liked the reference to the buttons representing the family children. Makes me realise how awful some jobs used to be, the soot of industry and people dying so young as a result. There are still jobs like that now. Thanks for sharing ❤

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  8. This is deeply, deeply moving! I especially like; ” But no on ever knew off him no one ever will/No statue will bear his name or the name of any grafter/Or wear the red buttoned black donkey jacket/The red red buttons..” Sigh …

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  9. well, as a blue collar american i thank you (i guess the american version of that coat would be the florescent vest) i worked a few years in an office at a desk, and i hated it. for years now i’ve done physical work, i like moving around, heart pumping blood. it feels good, and i feel like i’ve accomplished something everyday. it keeps me physically fit and mentally sharp. again thank you and i salute you right back

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  10. You built a wonderful elegy to a workmate who meant the world to his buddies but was considered not much more than an expendable resource to those who got rich off of his back. I remember when they changed the name personnel department to human resources. They wanted the workers to be one step away from being real people.

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  11. This is a really moving poem Rog, and those red buttons are a striking image – especially when they are handed to each of his children after he dies. We often fail to think of those who spend their whole lives struggling to get by, but also keep the world turning.

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