I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits,
A poet's pen, all scorn, I should thus wrong;
For such despite they cast on female wits:
If what I do prove well, it won't advance,
They'll say it's stolen, or else it was by chance.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), U.S. poet. repr. In Several Poems Compiled with Great Variety of Wit and Learning (1678). "The Prologue," (1650).)

A Bartas can do what a Bartas will
But simple I according to my skill.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. To sing of wars, of captains, and of kings (l. 11-12). . . Norton Anthology of American Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Nina Baym and others, eds. (2d ed., 1985) W. W. Norton & Company.)

For such despite they cast on female wits:
If what I do prove well, it won't advance,
They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. To sing of wars, of captains, and of kings (l. 28-30). . . Norton Anthology of American Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Nina Baym and others, eds. (2d ed., 1985) W. W. Norton & Company.)

Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love lets so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. To My Dear and Loving Husband (l. 9-12). . . Poets of the English Language, Vols. I-V. Vol. I: Langland to Spenser; Vol. II: Marlowe to Marvell; Vol. III: Milton to Goldsmith; Vol. IV: Blake to Poe; Vol. V: Tennyson to Yeats. W. H. Auden and Norman Holmes Pearson, eds. (1950) The Viking Press.)

And time brings down what is both strong and tall.
But plants new set to be eradicate,
And buds new blown, to have so short a date,
Is by his hand alone that guides nature and fate.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet Who Decesased August, 1665, Being a Year and a Half Old (l. 11-14). . . Norton Anthology of American Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Nina Baym and others, eds. (2d ed., 1985) W. W. Norton & Company.)

Sisters we are, yea, twins we be,
Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me;
For from one father are we not,
Thou by old Adam wast begot,
But my arise is from above,

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. The Flesh and the Spirit (l. 43-47). . . Norton Anthology of American Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Nina Baym and others, eds. (2d ed., 1985) W. W. Norton & Company.)

Thou hast an house on high erect,
Framed by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent though this be fled.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10, 1666 (l. 43-46). . . Norton Anthology of Poetry, The. Alexander W. Allison and others, eds. (3d ed., 1983) W. W. Norton & Company.)

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. To My Dear and Loving Husband (l. 1-2). . . Poets of the English Language, Vols. I-V. Vol. I: Langland to Spenser; Vol. II: Marlowe to Marvell; Vol. III: Milton to Goldsmith; Vol. IV: Blake to Poe; Vol. V: Tennyson to Yeats. W. H. Auden and Norman Holmes Pearson, eds. (1950) The Viking Press.)

Nor youth, nor strength, nor wisdom spring again,
Nor habitations long their names retain,
But in oblivion to the final day remain.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. Contemplations (l. 131-133). . . Poets of the English Language, Vols. I-V. Vol. I: Langland to Spenser; Vol. II: Marlowe to Marvell; Vol. III: Milton to Goldsmith; Vol. IV: Blake to Poe; Vol. V: Tennyson to Yeats. W. H. Auden and Norman Holmes Pearson, eds. (1950) The Viking Press.)

But he whose name is graved in the white stone
Shall last and shine when all of these are gone.

(Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672), Anglo-American poet. Contemplations (l. 231-232). . . Poets of the English Language, Vols. I-V. Vol. I: Langland to Spenser; Vol. II: Marlowe to Marvell; Vol. III: Milton to Goldsmith; Vol. IV: Blake to Poe; Vol. V: Tennyson to Yeats. W. H. Auden and Norman Holmes Pearson, eds. (1950) The Viking Press.)