the golf links lie so near the mill

this poem sounds ironic and sad at the same time. it almost has a sarcastic tone. the children who work in the mills are watching the grown men play golf. the word choice is interesting because the author chose to use "laboring" instead of just labor. the "ing" makes the word slow down and makes it feel like the work the children do is long and tedious. the "men at play" line sounds ironic becuase we are used to hearing children at play instead.