Anne Bradstreet - Mini Poem Summaries

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Prologue
At first she is reluctant to tell of the beginning of the creation of the commonwealth because she feels unworthy. But then she is inspired by Bartas and begins. She apologizes for her irreparably inferior skill. She objects to the convention against women writing and addresses the scorn with which women writers are regarded. She concedes that men do everything better, but asks men not to completely disregard women's smaller talents. She says her poetry is worthy of recognition.

To My Dear and Loving Husband
She loves her husband and is joyful to be with him. She loves him more than all the riches and though she cannot repay him she prays heaven will reward him. She asks him to persevere in love so that through this love they may live forever.

Verses Upon the Burning of Our House
When she went to sleep she did not expect disaster, but she is awakened with cries of "fire!" She prays to god for help, leaves her house and looks upon her burning dwelling. She blesses God for giving and taking, and concedes her home was his to take. She passes by the ruins frequently and sees those places she used to sit and lie, and where her possessions used to be. She laments their absence and reflects that she will not be able to enjoy them and her house any longer. Then she chastises herself for being vain and chases away her material thoughts. She has, she thinks, a permanent house in the Lord although this one burned down, and this makes her wealthy. She prays to keep her thoughts on god and away from material things.

Posthumous depiction of Anne Bradstreet
by Edmund H. Garrett. 
Source: Wikipedia

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