Early American Poetry: Selections from Bradstreet, Taylor, Dwight, Freneau, and Bryant

Occasional Poems

Occasional Poems 85 The Road that gives them right thereto While in this Coach these sweetly sing As they to Glory ride therein. (oodated; 1937) Occasional Poems UPON A SPIDER CATCHING A FLY Thou sorrow, venom Elfe. Is this thy play, To spin a web out of thyselfe To Catch a Fly? For Why? I saw a pettish wasp Fall foule therein. Whom yet thy Whorle1 pins did not clasp Lest he should fling His sting. But as affraid, remote Didst stand hereat And with thy little fingers stroke And gently tap His back. Thus gently him didst treate Lest he should pet, And in a froppish,2 waspish heate Should greatly fret Thy net. 1. Small flywheel on a spinning wheel. 2. Fretful; pettish. 30 5 10 15 20 86 Edward Taylor Whereas the silly Fly, Caught by its leg Thou by the throate tookst hastily And 'hinde the head Bite Dead. This goes to pot, that not Nature doth call. Strive not above what strength hath got Lest in the brawle Thou fall. This Frey seems thus to us. Hells Spider gets His intrails spun to whip Cords thus And wove to nets And sets. To tangle Adams race In's stratigems To their Destructions, spoil'd, made base By venom things Damn'd Sins. But mighty, Gracious Lord Communicate Thy Grace to breake the Cord, afford Us Glorys Gate And State. We'l Nightingaile sing like When pearcht on high In Glories Cage, thy glory, bright, And thankfully, For joy. (undated; 1939) 25 30 35 40 45 50 Occasional Poems 87 UPON A WASP CHILD WITH COLD The Bare that breaths the Northern blast Did numb, Torpedo like, a Wasp Whose stiffend limbs encrampt, lay bathing In Sol's warm breath and shine as saving, Which with her hands she chafes and stands Rubbing her Legs, Shanks, Thighs, and hands. Her petty toes, and fingers ends Nipt with this breath, she out extends Unto the Sun, in greate desire To warm her digits at that fire. Doth hold her Temples in this state Where pulse doth beate, and head doth ake. Doth tum, and stretch her body small, Doth Comb her velvet Capitall.1 As if her little brain pan were A Volume of Choice precepts cleare. As if her sattin jacket hot Contained Apothecaries Shop Of Natures recepts, that preVails To remedy all her sad ailes, As if her velvet helmet high Did turret rationality. She fans her wing up to the Winde As if her Pettycoate were lin'de, With reasons fleece, and hoises sails And hu'ming flies in thankful! gails Unto her dun Curld palace Hall Her warm thanks offering for all. Lord cleare my misted sight that I May hence view thy Divinity. Some sparkes whereof thou up dost hasp Within this little downy Wasp In whose small Corporation wee A school and a schoolmaster see 1. Head. 5 10 15 20 25 30 88 Edward Taylor Where we may learn, and easily finde A nimble Spirit bravely minde Her worke in e'ry limb: and lace It up neate with a vitalI grace, Acting each part though ne'er so small Here of this Fustian2 animall. Till I enravisht Climb into The Godhead on this Lather doe. Where all my pipes inspir'de upraise An Heavenly musick furrd with praise. (undated; 1943) 2. Clothed in thick cloth. HUSWIFERY Make me, 0 Lord, thy Spining Wheele compleate. 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 yam 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 yam is fine. Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills. Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice, All pinkt with Varnisht 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. (undated; 1937) 35 40 5 10 15 Occasional Poems 89 UPON WEDLOCK, AND DEATH OF CHILDREN A Curious Knot God made in...