Anne Bradstreet (ca. 1612-1672) To my Dear and Loving Husband

1 If ever two were one, then surely we.
2 If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
3 If ever wife was happy in a man,
4 Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
5 I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
6 Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
7 My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
8 Nor ought but love from thee give recompence.
9 Thy love is such I can no way repay.
10 The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
11 Then while we live, in love let's so persever
12 That when we live no more, we may live ever.



Reflection:

Anne Bradstreet tells how she considers herself one with her husband and that they love each other equally as much a man and woman could love one another. She uses the Earth’s riches to show that they do not compare to the love that they share with one another. Even though as time goes on she still is filled with the love that she had when she first met her husband. Bradstreet told us through her poem how love can affect someone throughout their lifetime and how she was affected even in death.


Dear Diary:

My mom wept tears of sadness as she saw my father off as he stepped out of the house for the last and final time. She told me last night that he was traveling to the new world that every rich family was talking about because people were finding all sorts of new land to buy and keep for themselves real cheap. It was the revolutionists form off having their own life away from our horrid king’s rule. Our teacher warned us about these people and how they could hurt us by troubling the king, but he was my dad and I would not want him to leave for anything in the world.

My mother told me the story of how they first met and their gaze into each others eyes and they fell in love. That story shows to me how that love can be found anywhere and how strong it is for it to affect your life partner. Unfortunately my mother says that it is nice to have common sense and not try to seek trouble from the king and his men. That is how far my parents love ends, but when I grow older I wish that love has no boundaries and we can live in a world not ruled by the rich.


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