Week 12 Poems

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" By: Bradstreet

This poem was written by a woman who loved her husband more than anything. "More than whole mines of gold" which is stated in line 5.  Even though her husband probably knows how much he is loved I think she wrote this poem to put in into words for him.  She wants him to know that even after they die she thinks that their love for one another will continue through eternity.  She believes they are soul mates.

"Memorandum" By: Bolton

When I first read this I wasn't sure it was a poem. It was more of a woman complaining of all the things that her boyfriend does wrong and that she is fed up with him and his actions.  He seems to be a person that is all about himself and doesn't care about anyone else or their feelings.  I think that she has had it with him not caring anything about her and is tired of being run over and taken advantage of.

"Before the Birth of One of Her Children" By: Bradstreet

When I started reading this I thought that it was a letter to her child but the more I read it I think it is also to her spouse.  She seems to think that she is going to die and wants to leave a note to her child to let him/her know how much she loved them and didn't want to leave but all she could do was write this letter.  She says "look at my babes, my dear remains" also " protect from stepdame's injury" which made me believe this was to her spouse as well.  She is telling him to protect the child and when the loss is to hard look at the good (child) she left behind.

"Battle Hymn of the Republic" By: Howe

I think that this poem is about soldiers that are fighting for freedom and are praying to God to keep them safe.  The soldiers are still worshiping the Lord even though they are in a battle zone and they know that even though they have the training they still need the Lord to keep them safe.  In line 13 it talks about the end of time and facing God on judgement day and their soul being saved. The soldiers are not only in a battle for freedom they are also in a battle with themselves and need God to save them.

"Thinking About Bill, Dead of AIDS" By: Williams

This poem is about someone who had a friend die with AIDS.  They are not sure how to act towards him because they don't know much about AIDS. They didn't realize how it damages a persons body and are scared they are going to catch it also.  They stay by his bedside,  kiss him to easy some tension, but I think the more they try to hide their fear the more the tension grows. Its hard for everyone because they don't know how that person is going to respond to their friends actions.