Woman Work (p. 271) - Reflection

This is such a strong and influential poem. Maya Angelou is writing about a subject matter that many people tend to overlook as being a job or being work. The job as mother and caregiver is, in my opinion, the toughest and most demanding role a person could have. They sacrifice so much for their family and it very often goes unnoticed, at times it may seem like a thankless job, however, children that come from a home where they have a mother that really loves and cares for them, know how blessed they are to be so privileged to have a mother who is willing to give and love unconditionally.
Angelou is just trying to have her readers appreciate all the small things that woman must do, the first stanza just focusing on how she must care for the children and the house becomes overwhelming when she is listing everything that must be done in the course of a day. It stretches from tending to the children to picking the cotton; there is never a moment of rest. Seeing the work that must be done, it is amazing how a single person is able to accomplish all the tasks at hand; especially when it is assumed she will not receive any help because it is only mere "woman's work;" when it really should entail an entire an army to complete everything.
The speaker shows her vulnerability "cool my brow again" (line 18) because she is just reinstating that she is only human, and as one person, she can handle only so much; every person has a breaking point where, they too, just need a moment to themselves to regain their thoughts.
I do not think she is resentful toward the work she must complete because she is doing it out of love and selflessness; however, she is making a statement that even though she may only be a woman, and a woman of color, she takes on the workload and the responsibility of a superhero. That even though the chores of a housewife may seem meager, it takes a special, strong and secure woman to maintain such a role.