May day. Saint Joseph the worker's day

We celebrate the first of May. May day. Saint Joseph the worker's day. The day all workers, especially socialists, express their solidarity with their fellow workers. A day when we consider the nature of our work and not the material things we have as a result of our work. But Blessed John Paul II reminded us that we must never take the most important element out of this consideration – the gift of the man or woman who partakes this work.

In this respect I am reminded of this wonderful poem by D.H. Lawrence. It is well worth reading.

What is he?
-A man, of course.
Yes, but what does he do?
-He lives and is a man.
Oh quite! But he must work.  He must have a job of some sort
-Why?
Because obviously he’s not one of the leisured classes.
-I don’t know.  He has lots of leisure.  And he makes quite beautiful chairs.
There you are then!  He’s a cabinet maker.
-No, no
Anyhow a carpenter and a joiner.
-Not at all.
But you said so
-What did I say?
That he made chairs and was a joiner and carpenter
-I said he made chairs, but I did not say he was a carpenter.
All right then he is just an amateur?
-Perhaps! would you say a thrush was a professional flautist, or just an amateur?
I’d say it was just a bird
-And I say he is just a man.
All right!  You always did quibble?