The Author To Her Book
Anne Bradstreet, 1612 – 1672
Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth didst by my side remain,
Till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true,
Who thee abroad, exposed to public view,
Made thee in rags, halting to th’ press to trudge,
Where errors were not lessened (all may judge).
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) should mother call,
I cast thee by as one unfit for light,
The visage was so irksome in my sight;
Yet being mine own, at length affection would
Thy blemishes amend, if so I could.
I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,
And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw.
I stretched thy joints to make thee even feet,
Yet still thou run’st more hobbling than is meet;
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought save homespun cloth i’ th’ house I find.
In this array ‘mongst vulgars may’st thou roam.
In critic’s hands beware thou dost not come,
And take thy way where yet thou art not known;
If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none;
And for thy mother, she alas is poor,
Which caused her thus to send thee out of door.
Anne Bradstreet was a British settler in the colonies. And the first person ever to get a volume of poems published in what soon to be America. Anne Bradstreet has created a certain image in her head about her own poems, creating her truth about them. Where I have come to see certain similarities between Anne Bradstreet’s poems, and the beginning of American identity. Anne Bradstreet’s poems just like early America, contained nonconsensual use of force before its independence, where America used force to get what it wanted: land and labor. Moreover, there are multiple similarities between the state of America at the time and Anne Bradstreet’s poems “ill-form’d” and “less wise”. Anne Bradstreet wanted to fix her poetry by spending money and using the more expensive way of printing. This is directly reflected in one of the most prominent aspects of today’s American culture: consumerism. Moreover, it is interesting to see how Anne Bradstreet created the comparison of her work with her child, symbolizing and highlighting the role of a woman as a creator and innovators. However, it is important to note that by the end of the poem, she accepts that her book is out there and is unable but to show affection and love for it. Which might be the lesson to take to apply in our nation: love and acceptance of our flaws.
Why did I choose this piece?
Anne Bradstreet was a pioneer writer and publisher and her piece paved the way for the American spirit. Along with that, she has paved the way for many more women and pieces to come.
