In Rita Dove's "Daystar", Dove depicts the repetitive and exhausting daily routine of an anonymous mother to reflect the unsatisfying role women play in the company. The woman in the poem fulfills her duties as a mother by doing her household chores and caring for her children, but at the end of the day she feels empty. Repeating the same gestures and actions day after day is no longer enough to satisfy the woman's desires or needs and she finds herself dreaming of a place other than the one she currently occupies. Dove frequently changes her tone to express the emotions the woman experiences throughout her day and uses discouraging words to reflect the mother's dissatisfaction with her life. Diction is an integral part of the poem as Dove manipulates certain words to elicit feelings of compassion from the reader. In the second stanza, the mother “dragged a chair behind the garage” (line 4) to finally rest after running around all day in rags. The word “carried around” indicates the heaviness of one’s responsibilities and presents a feeling of melancholy. The mother's duties weigh heavily on her life and prevent her from being able to accomplish tasks that have nothing to do with the household. She must devote all her time and effort to household chores, eliminating any free time she might have for herself. The mother's discontent is not only apparent in her daily routine but also in her relationship with her husband. Throughout the poem, the role of the husband is non-existent and is only even mentioned when the wife goes to bed. Her husband “[falls] into her” (line 18) and she does not respond to him with any loving emotion. Dove uses the word "swerve" to describe an unwanted force of contact and finding herself in the middle of a paper......is more than a stay-at-home mother and wife, but feels trapped by this role. that she has to play. In the same way that people wait for the day star, or sun, to rise each day, mothers are expected to complete their tasks like cleaning the house or caring for children. Both are taken advantage of and are only fully appreciated when they cease to perform their duties. Throughout the poem, the woman's daughter and husband are given names, "Liza" (line 12) and "Thomas" (line 17), respectively, but not her. The woman is only referred to as “she,” which further highlights the lack of recognition she receives. The mother is taken for granted by her family and is not considered important. Her efforts are ignored and she is never thanked for completing her household chores, because that is the role she is "supposed" to fulfill..