In Reference To Her Children Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBCCDDEEFFDDEEGGHHD DIIJJIIAAKKLMNNAADDO JPQBBCCRRSSAATUVFFWX DDYYEECCIIZZDDA2B2C2 C2AAKKA2B2YC2D2D2E2F 2IIand hens the rest | A |
I nursed them up with pain and care | B |
Nor 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 dam and sire | F |
Fly back and sing amidst this choir | F |
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 | G |
They norward steered with filled sails | G |
A prettier bird was no where seen | H |
Along the beach among the treen | H |
I have a third of colour white | D |
On whom I placed no small delight | D |
Coupled with mate loving and true | I |
Hath also bid her dam adieu | I |
And where Aurora first appears | J |
She now hath perched to spend her years | J |
One to the academy flew | I |
To chat among that learned crew | I |
Ambition moves still in his breast | A |
That he might chant above the rest | A |
Striving for more than to do well | K |
That nightingales he might excel | K |
My fifth whose down is yet scarce gone | L |
Is 'mongst the shrubs and bushes flown | M |
And as his wings increase in strength | N |
On higher boughs he'll perch at length | N |
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 ordained so shall they light | D |
If birds could weep then would my tears | O |
Let others know what are my fears | J |
Lest this my brood some harm should catch | P |
And be surprised for want of watch | Q |
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 allured with bell and glass | R |
The net be spread and caught alas | R |
Or lest by lime twigs they be foiled | S |
Or by some greedy hawks be spoiled | S |
O would my young ye saw my breast | A |
And knew what thoughts there sadly rest | A |
Great was my pain when I you fed | T |
Long did I keep you soft and warm | U |
And with my wings kept off all harm | V |
My cares are more and fears than ever | F |
My throbs such now as 'fore were never | F |
Alas my birds you wisdom want | W |
Of perils you are ignorant | X |
Oft times in grass on trees in flight | D |
Sore accidents on you may light | D |
O to your safety have an eye | Y |
So happy may you live and die | Y |
Meanwhile 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 | I |
But former toys no joys adieu | I |
My age I will not once lament | Z |
But sing my time so near is spent | Z |
And from the top bough take my flight | D |
Into a country beyond sight | D |
Where old ones instantly grow young | A2 |
And there with seraphims set song | B2 |
No seasons cold nor storms they see | C2 |
But spring lasts to eternity | C2 |
When each of you shall in your nest | A |
Among your young ones take your rest | A |
In chirping language oft them tell | K |
You had a dam that loved you well | K |
That did what could be done for young | A2 |
And nursed you up till you were strong | B2 |
And 'fore she once would let you fly | Y |
She showed you joy and misery | C2 |
Taught what was good and what was ill | D2 |
What would save life and what would kill | D2 |
Thus gone amongst you I may live | E2 |
And dead yet speak and counsel give | F2 |
Farewell my birds farewell adieu | I |
I happy am if well with you | I |
Anne Bradstreet
(1)
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