Huswifery

Huswifery by Edward Taylor

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat;
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 yarn 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 yarn is fine.
Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.
Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice,
All pinkt with Varnish't 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.


Reaction:
In this poem the speaker compares himself to the necessary tools needed to construct a sweater and compares the weaver to God. The spinning wheel, the main piece of equipment, he compares to himself. The distaff is God's Holy words, the speaker's belife system. The flyers, the needles, are the emotions of the speaker. The spool, the thread, represent the soul of the speaker. The reel, which pulls the thread spool, is his conversation with God. I thought the metaphor the author used showed how a sweater which is clothing and a necessity was woven by God therefore conveying that God's presence in life is also essential to live. This poem represents Puritan literature because it metaphorically relates a simple task, such as weaving, to God, who is the focal point in their lifestyle and belief system. By worshiping God, he would weave his glory into their earthly life and weave them eternal life when they die.


Diary:

24 May

I honor my God more so than anything. Each morning before I rise I recite scripture along with each meal of the day and before I lay my head to rest. We must remain humble for there is nothing we could do that would ever amount to the perfection of Him. I owe every achievement to His Holiness and even when He spills mishaps into my life it is because I deserve them or there is a greater blessing to be revealed.