Anne Bradstreet (born Anne Dudley; March 20, 1612 – September 16, 1672) was the most prominent of early English poets of North America and first female writer in England's North American colonies to be published. She was also a prominent Puritan figure in American Literature. Bradstreet's first volume of poetry was The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, published in 1650.
Her works tend to be directed to members of her family and are generally intimate. For instance, in Bradstreet's "To My Dear and Loving Husband", the poem's intended audience is her husband, Simon Bradstreet. The focal point of this poem is the love that she has for her husband. As today's featured poet in celebration of National Poetry Month, we present Anne Bradstreet's intimate poem, To My Dear and Loving Husband.
To my Dear and Loving Husband
By Anne Bradstreet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of Gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love lets so persevere,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Comments
Post a Comment