Bradstreet and Wigglesworth

Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan born in Northampton, England.  She like to compare scripture to writings by Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.  It was such a rarity for a woman to be a poet, on that was genuine, it created a place for her in history.  Metaphors and cunning descriptions were found through out her writings and many thought these to be simple and generous.  

Bradstreet's poems were very homely, so to say, about herself and her family.  Much of her work was centered around her beliefs and how she believed heaven would look.

"My garments are not silk nor gold

Nor such like trash which earth doth hold,

But royal robes I shall have on

More glorious than the glist'ring sun.

My crown not diamonds, pearls, and gold,

But such as angels' heads infold.

The City where I hope to dwell

There's none on earth cannot parallel;"

But some of Bradstreet's poems were scandalous, so to say.  In her poem "To My Dear and Loving Husband", she publicly shows her love and devotion to her husband, and even puts him in front of loving God.  

"If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me ye women if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay;

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persever,

That when we live no more we may live ever."

This was not what a Puritan woman was suppose to do, she was suppose to keep that kind of love behind closed doors and always put God first.

Michael Wigglesworth was born to a Yorkshire man and grew up in New Haven.  He became a minister in Boston and stayed in contact with some major writers.  All of his writings were focused around the beliefs and practices of his flock, the Puritans.  

Wigglesworth was, indeed, a Puritan by heart.  His poems showed that through each line.  He speaks of the coming of Christ, like he would in a Church service.  

"For at midnight brake forth a Light,

which turned the night to day,

And speedily an hideous cry

did all the world dismay.

Sinners awake, their hearts do ache,

trembling their loins surpriseth;

Amazed with fear, by what they hear,

each one of them ariseth."

From reading his poem "The Day of Doom", he goes into great detail how sinners of this world will be punished once Christ comes back.  

"You sinners are, and such a share

as sinners may expect,

Such you shall have; for I do save

none but Mine own Elect.

Yet to compare your sin with their,

who lived a longer time,

I do confess yours is much less,

though every sin's a crime.

A crime it is, therefore in bliss

you may not hope to dwell;

But unto you I shall allow

the easiest room in hell."

Bradstreet was a much better read to me, because her poems had a feeling of more feelings to them, while Wigglesworth's writings seem cold and judgmental.