Work has long been a central theme in poetry, serving as a mirror to society’s values, struggles, and humor. Some poems explore work with deep seriousness, addressing labor rights, economic challenges, and the burdens of daily toil. But there is also a lighter side to work that reveals itself in the form of humor, wit, and satire. The workday can be grueling, but many poets have found humor in the mundane, poking fun at the absurdities of office life, the complexities of office politics, and the universal longing for a break.
In this article, we will explore eleven of the most popular funny poems about work in history, providing insights into their meanings, contexts, and lasting appeal. These poems not only provide comic relief but also reflect on the nature of work and its impact on the human spirit.
The 11 Most Popular Funny Poems About Work in History
1. “I Can’t Work Today” by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein is known for his playful and witty poems that speak to both children and adults. One of his most humorous takes on work comes from his poem “I Can’t Work Today,” which is found in his collection Where the Sidewalk Ends. The poem features a narrator who is all too eager to avoid work and comes up with increasingly ridiculous excuses to avoid it.
Excerpt: “I can’t work today, I’m feeling kind of lazy,
And the sun is shining bright, but the grass is looking hazy.
I might just take a nap, or maybe ride my bike,
But the thought of doing work just doesn’t feel so right.”
Analysis: Silverstein’s use of playful language and whimsical rhymes emphasizes the childlike avoidance of responsibility, tapping into a universal feeling that anyone who’s ever had a day of work can relate to. The poem is humorous because the narrator’s reasons for avoiding work are impractical and absurd, yet entirely relatable. By exaggerating the excuses people use to escape their work, Silverstein both pokes fun at human nature and provides a lighthearted escape for the reader.
2. “The Office” by Billy Collins
Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate, is known for his accessible and often humorous poetry. In The Office, Collins takes a sardonic look at the humdrum of office work. He juxtaposes the seeming tedium of office life with unexpected flashes of poetic insight, offering both humor and reflection on the nature of work.
Excerpt: “You stand in line at the copy machine,
wondering why it always breaks down at just the wrong time.
Then, as if to make it all seem worthwhile,
you turn to the office plant and ask it for advice.”
Analysis: Collins is a master of subtle humor, and in this poem, he draws attention to the rituals and frustrations of office work that often go unnoticed. The humor arises not from outrageous scenarios but from the very recognition of the mundane aspects of work life. By giving the office plant human-like qualities, Collins invites the reader to laugh at how absurdly we sometimes treat objects in our workplace, even attributing wisdom to a potted plant.
3. “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
In her poem A Work of Artifice, Marge Piercy takes a satirical look at gender roles within the workplace. She uses the metaphor of a bonsai tree to examine how women are often confined and shaped by societal expectations in professional settings.
Excerpt: “The bonsai tree in the picture window
is not a tree at all
but a rootless creation
of a man-made form.”
Analysis: Piercy’s poem critiques the societal expectations placed on women to conform to narrow, restrictive roles, particularly in the workplace. The humor here comes from the pointed exaggeration of how women’s potential is pruned and shaped to fit a particular ideal. The absurdity of a tree being confined to a small pot mirrors how women are often expected to fit into predefined roles in professional environments, making the poem both a subtle critique and a dark humor piece about the nature of work and gender dynamics.
4. “The Boss” by Robert Frost
Robert Frost, widely known for his poems about nature, also had a sharp wit when it came to social commentary. The Boss is a humorous poem about the complexities of leadership and the often ridiculous demands of those in charge.
Excerpt: “I have to work. I can’t be so free
To do as I like, to be what I want.
The boss has a plan, a mind of his own,
And if I don’t follow, I’ll surely be gone.”
Analysis: In this short and snappy poem, Frost uses humor to criticize the disempowering nature of certain work environments. The exaggeration of the boss’s omnipotence—“a mind of his own”—becomes comical, as it highlights the absurdity of power dynamics in the workplace. Frost’s humor lies in his recognition of the absurdity of such rigid structures while offering a sly commentary on human subordination within corporate or institutional systems.
5. “The Work Ethic” by Frank O’Hara
Frank O’Hara, known for his spontaneity and wit, wrote The Work Ethic as a playful yet incisive look at how the concept of “work” is often misunderstood and misrepresented in society.
Excerpt: “Don’t call it work, call it fun,
That way you never have to be done.
Call it love, and it’s not a chore,
You’ll end up wanting more and more.”
Analysis: O’Hara uses irony to demonstrate how work can often feel like a never-ending cycle that consumes time and energy. He pokes fun at the idea of romanticizing work by suggesting that if we call it “fun” or “love,” it suddenly becomes enjoyable and without end. The humor stems from how this idealistic notion doesn’t match the reality of working life, where work is often seen as a necessity rather than a passion.
6. “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
While not a comedic poem in its entirety, T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land contains moments of dark humor and absurdity that speak to the disconnect of modern work and society. In particular, his section “A Game of Chess” humorously critiques the futility of business conversations and the disjointed nature of office dynamics.
Excerpt: “The chair she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Glowed on the marble, where the glass
Held up by standards wrought with fruited vines
From which a golden Cupidon peeped out.”
Analysis: Though this excerpt from The Waste Land is more abstract, it reflects Eliot’s critique of modern, mechanized life and the hollow nature of materialism, even in the workplace. The humor is in the over-the-top, almost surrealistic description of the office space. It portrays a world where meaning is absent, and yet everything is made to appear luxurious. This absurd image of office life—both grandiose and trivial at the same time—reveals the emptiness often hidden beneath the surface of modern work.
7. “The Businessman” by Ogden Nash
Ogden Nash is known for his whimsical and witty poems, and in The Businessman, he takes a humorous look at the world of commerce and the personality types that emerge within it.
Excerpt: “He does not like to sit at a desk,
But he is married to a telephone.
He would rather be in a coffeehouse,
But the conference call is his throne.”
Analysis: Nash’s humor lies in his exaggeration of the businessman’s life, which is depicted as both absurd and tragically predictable. By focusing on the businessman’s obsession with calls and meetings, Nash humorously critiques how work can often consume one’s life, reducing individuality to mere function. The comical imagery of the coffeehouse juxtaposed with the conference call reinforces how work often displaces personal freedom and enjoyment.
8. “The Lazy Poet” by Billy Collins
Billy Collins makes another appearance in this list with his poem The Lazy Poet, in which he humorously reflects on the avoidance of work, particularly the poet’s own procrastination.
Excerpt: “I will not write today,
for I have other things to do.
I have been busy thinking about the ocean
and why it has so much sand.”
Analysis: The humor here arises from the poet’s self-aware laziness. Collins explores the absurdity of avoiding work by engaging in trivial and completely unrelated thoughts. This is an amusing portrayal of procrastination, where the mind justifies avoidance by convincing itself that more important, if unrelated, thoughts need attention. The poem subtly comments on the universal human experience of avoiding work in favor of distractions.
9. “The Boredom of Work” by Jane Kenyon
Jane Kenyon’s The Boredom of Work is a reflection on the monotony and repetitive nature of work, with a touch of humor about the absurdity of finding meaning in what seems like endless drudgery.
Excerpt: “All day I sit at my desk,
listening to the ticking of the clock,
wondering if I will ever be free,
or if my life will simply be a job.”
Analysis: Kenyon uses the humdrum of office life as a way to explore larger existential themes, all while maintaining a dry, wry humor. The ticking clock becomes a symbol of the oppressive nature of work, but the humor lies in the exaggerated boredom that transforms the everyday workday into an almost comical routine. It’s a reminder of the absurdity of how much of life can be spent in a space that feels like a perpetual cycle of meaningless tasks.
10. “I Hate My Job” by Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt’s I Hate My Job is a pointed yet humorous poem about disillusionment with work and the absurdity of contemporary corporate life.
Excerpt: “I hate my job,
I hate the work I do.
But if I didn’t have it,
I’d be out of a paycheck, too.”
Analysis: Pollitt’s humor comes from the candid and relatable admission of disdain for work. The irony is that despite the intense dislike for the job, there’s a resigned acknowledgment that it’s necessary for survival. Pollitt’s poem taps into the dark humor of needing something we despise, reflecting the tension between necessity and personal fulfillment.
11. “How to Be a Successful Worker” by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes, the celebrated Harlem Renaissance poet, often wrote with humor and a sharp social consciousness. How to Be a Successful Worker is his comedic take on the trials and tribulations of labor, urging readers to make the best of difficult work conditions.
Excerpt: “Go to work, no matter how small the pay,
Show up on time, don’t give them a reason to say,
‘Where were you?’ Make sure you don’t complain,
That’s how you stay sane.”
Analysis: Hughes uses humor to point out the simplicity and banality of the advice offered to workers—essentially a satire on how society often values productivity over personal well-being. The straightforward, almost laughably basic suggestions play into the social commentary on how workers are often reduced to performing their duties without any recognition of their true value as individuals.
Conclusion
These eleven poems provide a comedic yet insightful reflection on the world of work. They highlight the absurdities, frustrations, and dark humor that often accompany the daily grind. While some may poke fun at the monotony of work, others offer a critique of the power dynamics and societal expectations that shape our professional lives. Through these works, poets have offered not just humor, but a deeper reflection on the roles that work plays in shaping our identities and experiences.
