Anne Bradstreet.doc

Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet (1612-1672) is one of the most important figures in the history of American Literature. She is considered by many to be the first American poet, and her first collection of poems, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts, doesnt contain any of her best known poems, it was the first book written by a woman to be published in the United States. Mrs. Bradstreets work also serves as a document of the struggles of a Puritan wife against the hardships of New England colonial life, and in some way is a testament to plight of the women of the age. Annes life was a constant struggle, from her difficult adaptation to the rigors of the new land, to her constant battle with illness. It is clear to see that Annes faith was exemplary, and so was her love for children and her husband, Governor Simon Bradstreet. Annes poems were written mainly during the long periods of loneliness while Simon was away on political errands. Anne, who was a well educated woman, also spent much time with her children, reading to them and teaching them as her father had taught her when she was young. While it is rather easy for us to view Puritan ideology in a bad light because of its attitude towards women and strict moral code, her indifference to material wealth, her humility and her spirituality, regardless of religion, made her into a positive, inspirational role model for any of us.Another one of Annes most important qualities was her strong intuition, although only subtly hinted at in her work, probably for fear of reprisal from the deeply religious Puritan community, one cannot help but feel her constant fascination with the human mind, and spirit, and inner guidance.Her style is deceptively simple, yet speaks of a woman of high intelligence and ideals who was very much in love, and had unconditional faith. While it was difficult for women to air their views in the 17th Century, Anne Bradstreet did so with ease, as her rich vocabulary and polyvalent knowledge brought a lyrical, yet logical quality to her work which made it pleasant for anyone to read.The Flesh and the Spirit In secret place where once I stoodClose by the Banks of Lacrim flood,I heard two sisters reason onThings that are past and things to come.One Flesh was calld, who had her eyeOn worldly wealth and vanity;The other Spirit, who did rearHer thoughts unto a higher sphere.Sister, quoth Flesh, what livst thou onNothing but Meditation?Doth Contemplation feed thee soRegardlessly to let earth go?Can Speculation satisfyNotion without Reality?Dost dream of things beyond the MoonAnd dost thou hope to dwell there soon?Hast treasures there laid up in storeThat all in th world thou countst but poor?Art fancy-sick or turnd a SotTo catch at shadows which are not?Come, come. Ill show unto thy sense,Industry hath its recompence.What canst desire, but thou maist seeTrue substance in variety?Dost honour like? Acquire the same,As some to their immortal fame;And trophies to thy name erectWhich wearing time shall neer deject.For riches dost thou long full sore?Behold enough of precious store.Earth hath more silver, pearls, and goldThan eyes can see or hands can hold.Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill.Earth hath enough of what you will.Then let not go what thou maist findFor things unknown only in mind.Spirit.Be still, thou unregenerate part,Disturb no more my settled heart,For I have vowd (and so will do)Thee as a foe still to pursue,And combat with thee will and mustUntil I see thee laid in th dust.Sister we are, yea twins we be,Yet deadly feud twixt thee and me,For from one father are we not.Thou by old Adam wast begot,But my arise is from above,Whence my dear father I do love.Thou speakst me fair but hatst me sore.Thy flattring shews Ill trust no more.How oft thy slave hast thou me madeWhen I believd what thou hast saidAnd never had more cause of woeThan when I did what thou badst do.Ill stop mine ears at these thy charmsAnd count them for my deadly harms.Thy sinful pleasures I do hate,Thy riches are to me no bait.Thine honours do, nor will I love,For my ambition lies above.My greatest honour it shall beWhen I am victor over thee,And Triumph shall, with laurel head,When thou my Captive shalt be led.How I do live, thou needst not scoff,For I have meat thou knowst not of.The hidden MAnnea I do eat;The word of life, it is my meat.My thoughts do yield me more contentThan can thy hours in pleasure spent.Nor are they shadows which I catch,Nor fancies vain at which I snatchBut reach at things that are so high,Beyond thy dull Capacity.Eternal substance I do seeWith which inriched I would be.Mine eye doth pierce the heavns and seeWhat is Invisible to thee.My garments are not silk nor gold,Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold,But Royal Robes I shall have on,More glorious than the glistring Sun.My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold,But such as Angels heads infold.The City where I hope to dwell,Theres none on Earth can parallel.The stately Walls both high and trongAre made of precious Jasper stone,The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear,And Angels are for Porters there.The Streets thereof transparent goldSuch as no Eye did ere behold.A Crystal River there doth runWhich doth proceed from the Lambs Throne.Of Life, there are the waters sureWhich shall remain forever pure.Nor Sun nor Moon they have no needFor glory doth from God proceed.No Candle there, nor yet Torch light,For there shall be no darksome night.From sickness and infirmityForevermore they shall be free.Nor withering age shall ere come there,But beauty shall be bright and clear.This City pure is not for thee,For things unclean there shall not be.If I of Heavn may have my fill,Take thou the world, and all that will.Verses upon the Burning of our HouseIn silent night when rest I took,For sorrow near I did not look,I wakend was with thundring noiseAnd piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.That fearful sound of fire and fire,Let no man know is my Desire.I starting up, the light did spy,And to my God my heart did cryTo straighten me in my DistressAnd not to leave me succourless.Then coming out, behold a spaceThe flame consume my dwelling place.And when I could no longer look,I blest his grace that gave and took,That laid my goods now in the dust.Yea, so it was, and so twas just.It was his own; it was not mine.Far be it that I should repine,He might of all justly bereftBut yet sufficient for us left.When by the Ruins oft I pastMy sorrowing eyes aside did castAnd here and there the places spyWhere oft I sate and long did lie.Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,There lay that store I counted best,My pleasant things in ashes lieAnd them behold no more shall I.Under the roof no guest shall sit,Nor at thy Table eat a bit.No pleasant talk shall ere be toldNor things r