In Reference To Her Children, 23 June 1659 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFGDDEEHHII DDJJKKJJAALLMNOOAADD PKQRBBCCSSTTAAUUVWFF XYDDZZEECCJJA2A2DDB2 C2D2D2AALLB2C2ZD2LLE 2F2JJ| I had eight birds hatcht in one nest | A |
| Four Cocks were there and Hens the rest | A |
| I nurst them up with pain and care | B |
| No cost nor labour did I spare | B |
| Till at the last they felt their wing | C |
| Mounted the Trees and learned to sing | C |
| Chief of the Brood then took his flight | D |
| To Regions far and left me quite | D |
| My mournful chirps I after send | E |
| Till he return or I do end | E |
| Leave not thy nest thy Dame and Sire | F |
| Fly back and sing amidst this Quire | G |
| My second bird did take her flight | D |
| And with her mate flew out of sight | D |
| Southward they both their course did bend | E |
| And Seasons twain they there did spend | E |
| Till after blown by Southern gales | H |
| They Norward steer'd with filled sails | H |
| A prettier bird was no where seen | I |
| Along the Beach among the treen | I |
| I have a third of colour white | D |
| On whom I plac'd no small delight | D |
| Coupled with mate loving and true | J |
| Hath also bid her Dame adieu | J |
| And where Aurora first appears | K |
| She now hath percht to spend her years | K |
| One to the Academy flew | J |
| To chat among that learned crew | J |
| Ambition moves still in his breast | A |
| That he might chant above the rest | A |
| Striving for more than to do well | L |
| That nightingales he might excell | L |
| My fifth whose down is yet scarce gone | M |
| Is 'mongst the shrubs and bushes flown | N |
| And as his wings increase in strength | O |
| On higher boughs he'll perch at length | O |
| My other three still with me nest | A |
| Until they're grown then as the rest | A |
| Or here or there they'll take their flight | D |
| As is ordain'd so shall they light | D |
| If birds could weep then would my tears | P |
| Let others know what are my fears | K |
| Lest this my brood some harm should catch | Q |
| And be surpris'd for want of watch | R |
| Whilst pecking corn and void of care | B |
| They fall un'wares in Fowler's snare | B |
| Or whilst on trees they sit and sing | C |
| Some untoward boy at them do fling | C |
| Or whilst allur'd with bell and glass | S |
| The net be spread and caught alas | S |
| Or lest by Lime twigs they be foil'd | T |
| Or by some greedy hawks be spoil'd | T |
| O would my young ye saw my breast | A |
| And knew what thoughts there sadly rest | A |
| Great was my pain when I you bred | U |
| Great was my care when I you fed | U |
| Long did I keep you soft and warm | V |
| And with my wings kept off all harm | W |
| My cares are more and fears than ever | F |
| My throbs such now as 'fore were never | F |
| Alas my birds you wisdom want | X |
| Of perils you are ignorant | Y |
| Oft times in grass on trees in flight | D |
| Sore accidents on you may light | D |
| O to your safety have an eye | Z |
| So happy may you live and die | Z |
| Mean while my days in tunes I'll spend | E |
| Till my weak lays with me shall end | E |
| In shady woods I'll sit and sing | C |
| And things that past to mind I'll bring | C |
| Once young and pleasant as are you | J |
| But former toys no joys adieu | J |
| My age I will not once lament | A2 |
| But sing my time so near is spent | A2 |
| And from the top bough take my flight | D |
| Into a country beyond sight | D |
| Where old ones instantly grow young | B2 |
| And there with seraphims set song | C2 |
| No seasons cold nor storms they see | D2 |
| But spring lasts to eternity | D2 |
| When each of you shall in your nest | A |
| Among your young ones take your rest | A |
| In chirping languages oft them tell | L |
| You had a Dame that lov'd you well | L |
| That did what could be done for young | B2 |
| And nurst you up till you were strong | C2 |
| And 'fore she once would let you fly | Z |
| She shew'd you joy and misery | D2 |
| Taught what was good and what was ill | L |
| What would save life and what would kill | L |
| Thus gone amongst you I may live | E2 |
| And dead yet speak and counsel give | F2 |
| Farewell my birds farewell adieu | J |
| I happy am if well with you | J |
Anne Bradstreet
(1)
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About In Reference To Her Children, 23 June 1659
In Reference To Her Children, 23 June 1659 is a poem by Anne Bradstreet. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.