Well-Educated Mind Poetry Reading List discussion

Williams describes a bleak picture of America when morally corrupt, fiendish, and socially unacceptable men worked the railroads. They usually sought prostitutes on their stopovers and occasionally impregnated these women. The product of these sexual exploits often ended up in the state's care, and later were sent to work while still young. Likely, there was no hope for them, as they grew up to continue the cycle of corruption.

The poem was named for the poet's housekeeper, and perhaps this is her story. I do not know.