Anne+Bradstreet

And hath at once both ease and Rest, My waking eyes were open kept And so to lie I found it best.
 * By Night when Others Soundly Slept || ||
 * By night when others soundly slept

I sought him whom my Soul did Love, With tears I sought him earnestly. He bow'd his ear down from Above. In vain I did not seek or cry.

My hungry Soul he fill'd with Good; He in his Bottle put my tears, My smarting wounds washt in his blood, And banisht thence my Doubts and fears.

What to my Saviour shall I give Who freely hath done this for me? I'll serve him here whilst I shall live And Loue him to Eternity. || Summary:

This poem is about Anne Bradstreet's relationship and faith in God. She talks about how she is lying in bed awake and not able to sleep while everyone else is asleep. She stays awake and cries while she is praying. She explains that He is listening to her while she is praying and crying. She also tells how that He will fill he soul up with kindness and goodness and take away all of her fears and doubts. In the last stanza she wonders what she will give to her Savior, and answers that she will serve and live for Him.

Correlation:

1.) Throughout this poem there are many references to a higher power, most likely God. The references include " He bow'd his ear down from Above." and "What to my Saviour shall I give". Both of these lines reference God. The first by saying that he will bend down from Heaven and listen to her prayers. The second is by asking a rhetorical question, asking what can she do for Him.

2.) The mentions of God also signify the beliefs of the time period. This being a secular poem, it signifies that a majority of the culture had Christian or Catholic beliefs.

3.) This poem also gives insight to what her spiritual life may have been like. According to this line, "By night when others soundly slept, And hath at once both ease and Rest, My waking eyes were open kept And so to lie I found it best.", it seems that she lies awake at night while all of the other people are sleeping. While awake sh__e wrestles with her__ faith and what she can do for Him. This gives us a look into what kind of faith she has.

Reflection:

This poem by Anne Bradstreet allows us to look into what the people of the time period believed and also a look into what Anne Bradstreet personally feels. Anne Bradstreet I feel that this poem really gives an insight to the time period and their beliefs. This is a building block for poets of the future and is very important.
 * Pretty vague..what IS the belief & focus?**