Most people take the clothes they wear for granted and therefore do not bother to know the working conditions in which the clothes are produced. In the poem “Shirt,” Robert Pinsky reviews all the stages of shirt making. The shirt symbolizes the conditions of workers in sweat factories. Robert translates the effects of historical events into contemporary situations. He begins the poem by describing the sweatshops in Malaysia and Korea where the workers are located, talking about politics and gossip over tea. The poem pays tribute to the Malaysian and Korean workers at the Triangle Shirts factory. He talks about the Scottish workers who invented clan tartans and explains how the workers were oppressed by the factory owners. The poem depicts the relationships that exist between workers and consumers of various products in the contemporary world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The language used in the poem is descriptive and it helps bring out the message that the shirt is not an ordinary thing that should be taken away. taken for granted by the consumer. The poet uses the language used in a factory when he talks about “The wringer, the mutilation. The needle, the union” (8). The use of factory terminologies plays a crucial role in bringing out the setting and mood of the poem. This language plays a crucial role in capturing the reader's attention. More importantly, this terminology reminds the reader what it takes to have a fully made shirt. “The Code” mentioned in the last line of the third stanza alludes to the laws that govern working conditions in factories. The author is referring to the fire that occurred at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in Manhattan in 1911. More than a hundred immigrant workers lost their lives due to the fire. He writes that “one hundred and forty-six died in the flames” (11). Workers were exposed to dangerous conditions such as long working hours and low wages. The code is consistent with the fact that worker safety laws were repealed and this led to the infamous fire. The infamous fire is an image that plays a crucial role in bringing out the theme of exploitation and suffering of sweat factory workers. Additionally, the inclusion of fire in the poem evokes empathy in the reader as it shows that the sweat factory workers are tormented. Robert Pinsky describes the deaths of the Triangle Shirt Waiting Factory martyrs. For example, he writes: “Around his neck and I kissed him. Then he held her in space and let her fall. Almost immediately” (21-22). The workers lost their lives because there were no emergency exits or fire hydrants. The death of workers is similar to that of martyrs as they suffer the consequences of poor conditions in the sweat factories. This vision is crucial to highlighting the plight of sweat factory workers. Additionally, he mentions George Herbert who was a famous 17th century poet and Irma's ancestor. Irma is the woman from South Carolina responsible for inspecting the shirt. He succeeds in tracing the history of shirt making by mentioning a notable personality like Herbert. The historical reference is essential to show the losses attributed to sweat factories. The shirt is a symbol of simple things that communicate a lot about the lives of ordinary people. The poem is very helpful because it makes the reader think about the shirt he is wearing. The reader wonders if the shirt is produced.