“Before the Birth of One of Her Children”
“A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public
Anne Bradstreet
Employment”
Anne Bradstreet
All things within this fading world hath end,
Adversity doth still our joys attend;
No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet,
But with death's parting blow are sure to meet.
The sentence past is most irrevocable,
A common thing, yet oh, inevitable.
How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend,
How soon't may be thy lot to lose thy friend,
We both are ignorant, yet love bids me
These farewell lines to recommend to thee,
That when the knot's untied that made us one,
I may seem thine, who in effect am none.
And if I see not half my days that's due,
What nature would, God grant to yours and you;
The many faults that well you know I have
Let be interred in my oblivious grave;
If any worth or virtue were in me,
Let that live freshly in thy memory
And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harmes,
Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms,
And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains
Look to my little babes, my dear remains.
And if thou love thyself, or loved'st me,
These O protect from stepdame's injury.
And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse,
With some sad sighs honor my absent hearse;
And kiss this paper for thy dear love's sake,
My head, my heart, mine eyes, my life, nay more,
My joy, my magazine, of earthly store,
If two be one, as surely thou and I,
How stayest thou there, whilst I at Ipswich lie?
So many steps, head from the heart to sever,
If but a neck, soon should we be together.
I, like the Earth this season, mourn in black,
My Sun is gone so far in's zodiac,
Whom whilst I 'joyed, nor storms, nor frost I felt,
His warmth such fridged colds did cause to melt.
My chilled limbs now numbed lie forlorn;
Return; return, sweet Sol, from Capricorn;
In this dead time, alas, what can I more
Than view those fruits which through thy heart I bore?
Which sweet contentment yield me for a space,
True living pictures of their father's face.
O strange effect! now thou art southward gone,
I weary grow the tedious day so long;
But when thou northward to me shalt return,
I wish my Sun may never set, but burn
Within the Cancer of my glowing breast,
The welcome house of him my dearest guest.
Where ever, ever stay, and go not thence,
Till nature's sad decree shall call thee hence;
Flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone,
I here, thou there, yet both but one.
Who with salt tears this last farewell did take.
1. Count the number of lines in the poem.
1. Count the number of lines in the poem.
2. Letter the rhyme scheme.
2. Letter the rhyme scheme.
3. Count the number of syllables in each line.
3. Count the number of syllables in each line.
4. Circle and identify possible allusions.
4. Circle and identify possible allusions.
5. Underline and identify figurative language.
5. Underline and identify figurative language.
6. Summarize the main idea of the poem in 2-3
6. Summarize the main idea of the poem in 2-3
sentences.
sentences.
Anne Bradstreet (ca. 1612-1672)
The Flesh and the Spirit
1In secret place where once I stood
Spirit.
2Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood,
37"Be still, thou unregenerate part,
3I heard two sisters reason on
38Disturb no more my settled heart,
4Things that are past and things to come.
39For I have vow'd (and so will do)
5One Flesh was call'd, who had her eye
40Thee as a foe still to pursue,
6On worldly wealth and vanity;
41And combat with thee will and must
7The other Spirit, who did rear
42Until I see thee laid in th' dust.
8Her thoughts unto a higher sphere.
43Sister we are, yea twins we be,
9"Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on
44Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me,
10Nothing but Meditation?
45For from one father are we not.
11Doth Contemplation feed thee so
46Thou by old Adam wast begot,
12Regardlessly to let earth go?
47But my arise is from above,
13Can Speculation satisfy
48Whence my dear father I do love.
14Notion without Reality?
49Thou speak'st me fair but hat'st me sore.
15Dost dream of things beyond the Moon
50Thy flatt'ring shews I'll trust no more.
16And dost thou hope to dwell there soon?
51How oft thy slave hast thou me made
17Hast treasures there laid up in store
52When I believ'd what thou hast said
18That all in th' world thou count'st but poor?
53And never had more cause of woe
19Art fancy-sick or turn'd a Sot
54Than when I did what thou bad'st do.
20To catch at shadows which are not?
55I'll stop mine ears at these thy charms
21Come, come. I'll show unto thy sense,
56And count them for my deadly harms.
22Industry hath its recompence.
57Thy sinful pleasures I do hate,
23What canst desire, but thou maist see
58Thy riches are to me no bait.
24True substance in variety?
59Thine honours do, nor will I love,
25Dost honour like? Acquire the same,
60For my ambition lies above.
26As some to their immortal fame;
61My greatest honour it shall be
27And trophies to thy name erect
62When I am victor over thee,
28Which wearing time shall ne'er deject.
63And Triumph shall, with laurel head,
29For riches dost thou long full sore?
64When thou my Captive shalt be led.
30Behold enough of precious store.
65How I do live, thou need'st not scoff,
31Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold
66For I have meat thou know'st not of.
32Than eyes can see or hands can hold.
67The hidden Manna I do eat;
33Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill.
68The word of life, it is my meat.
34Earth hath enough of what you will.
69My thoughts do yield me more content
35Then let not go what thou maist find
70Than can thy hours in pleasure spent.
36For things unknown only in mind."
71Nor are they shadows which I catch,
72Nor fancies vain at which I snatch
73But reach at things that are so high,
94Which doth proceed from the Lamb's Throne.
74Beyond thy dull Capacity.
95Of Life, there are the waters sure
75Eternal substance I do see
96Which shall remain forever pure.
76With which inriched I would be.
97Nor Sun nor Moon they have no need
77Mine eye doth pierce the heav'ns and see
98For glory doth from God proceed.
78What is Invisible to thee.
99No Candle there, nor yet Torch light,
79My garments are not silk nor gold,
100For there shall be no darksome night.
80Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold,
101From sickness and infirmity
81But Royal Robes I shall have on,
102Forevermore they shall be free.
82More glorious than the glist'ring Sun.
103Nor withering age shall e're come there,
83My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold,
104But beauty shall be bright and clear.
84But such as Angels' heads infold.
105This City pure is not for thee,
85The City where I hope to dwell,
106For things unclean there shall not be.
86There's none on Earth can parallel.
107If I of Heav'n may have my fill,
87The stately Walls both high and trong
108Take thou the world, and all that will."
88Are made of precious Jasper stone,
89The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear,
Notes
90And Angels are for Porters there.
2] Lacrim flood: a torrent of tears.
91The Streets thereof transparent gold
67] Manna: heavenly food (Revelation 2.17).
92Such as no Eye did e're behold.
76] inriched: probably sounded "inrichèd."
93A Crystal River there doth run
85] The City: New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22).
1. What is the LITERAL conflict of the poem?
2. Look at the poem’s FIGURATIVE conflict in two different ways:
A. Considering the biographical information about the author, what might the conflict represent
symbolically (beyond literal conflict into interpretation of the possible figurative)? Discuss the
figurative/symbolic conflict in the piece using what you know about her life/biographical
information and the text of the poem to support your answer.
B. Considering the fact that that Bradstreet is a PURITAN, what might the conflict represent
symbolically (beyond literal conflict into interpretation of the possible figurative)? Discuss the
figurative/symbolic conflict in the piece using what you know about the puritans (historical
background) and the text of the poem to support your answer.