John Berryman
HOMAGE TO MISTRESS BRADSTREET
(Born 1612 Anne Dudley, married at 16 Simon Bradstreet,
a Cambridge man, steward to the Countess of Warwick
&
protege of her father Thomas Dudley secretary to the
Earl of Lincoln. Crossed in the
ATbelIa,
1630, under Gov–
ernor Winthrop.)
1
The Governor your husband lived so long
moved you not, restless, waiting for him? Still,
you were a patient woman.-
I seem to see you pause here stilI:
SylveSter, Quarles, in moments odd you pored
before a fire at, bright eyes on the Lord,
all
the children still.
'Simon ..' Simon will listen while you read a Song.
2
Outside the New World winters in grand dark
white
air
lashing high thro' the virgin stands
foxes down foxholes sigh,
surely the English heart quails, stunned.
I doubt if Simon than this blast, that sea,
spares from his rigour for your poetry
more. We are on each other's hands
who care. Both of our worlds unhanded us. Lie stark,
