Matin A La Fenetre. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker

From 'T.S. Eliot. Collected Poems 1909-1962', p.29. See Poem Hunter/ T.S. Eliot/ 5/56 for the English also.
Eliot moved from the U.S. to England while still a young man. The scene in the poem is a London street of houses with basement kitchens, where housemaids are noisily washing the breakfast plates. He is aware of the damp souls of housemaids sprouting sadly at the gates, perhaps dreaming of freedom.
Typically for London, there is fog and he still sees an aimless smile on the face of a passer-by with muddy skirts, a smile which hovers then vanishes along the rooftops. The poet has made something of this morning scene, which gives a glimpse of the English class system.