Huswifery

Huswifery
by Edward Taylor

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat;

Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee.

Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate,

And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.

My Conversation make to be thy Reele,

And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine:

And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills:

Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine.

Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.

Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice,

All pinkt with Varnish't Flowers of Paradise.

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will,

Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory;

My Words and Actions, that their shine may fill

My wayes with glory and thee glorify.

Then mine apparell shall display before yee

That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory.

http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/taylor14.htm

Reflection:

I chose this poem because I was impressed by the metaphor the author supplied and also really liked the message of the poem. The point of the poem was to demonstrate the fact that most individuals are seeking God's grace, even though they do not necessarily deserve it. I feel as if this poem is timeless because this is infact exactly the issue many individuals pray about. When reading this poem I am slightly angered by the fact that the author seems whiny and undeserving as he is asking for something, yet wishes to recieve it with no action on his part. While reading this poem you realize that the author is desperate and knows he is in need of help.

Dear Diary,

Mother recited this poem(prayer) as she was tidying up our quarters today. I know this move has been the hardest on her, she misses being home and taking care of our house. Mother likes to cook and tend her little garden. Father continues to remind her of the large farm we can have when we arrive in America. He says that we will buy all new things as soon as he begins his job. I think father simply hates to see mother upset. But, Mother knows father is right, because she must focus on the most important element of life, her faith. However, she has trouble dealing with the fact that she will not be able to raise her children in England alongside her family. I have heard her many a time talking to God about how she cannot live her life the way she should without his assisstance. It must be hard for her to struggle like that. She syays that God will answer her prayers, he is just extra busy right now. I can see how that would be true, all I have to do is look around at all of the broken people on the ship. The Captain says we should arrive in America any day now. Hopefully the spirits of everyone on board will lift with the news. Many people have already passed and been thrown overboard. Seasickness is as common as anything nowadays and we are quickly running out of food.