Bradstreet, Anne. "The Prologue".

Summary and Analysis

- 8 stanzas each of 6 lines rhymed ABAB

The poet is extremely humble, says she will not write about great persons and subjects of history, since her pen is not worth. Also her subject will not as those of G. du Bartas (a French writer much admired by the Puritans, translator of an epic poem recounting great moments in Christian history) for whom she has admiring words, but says she can do only according to her simple skill. She says such a beautiful poetry cannot be expected where there is a main defect.

She says she is found disagreeable by those who think a woman should stay by a needle. She pays tribute to men, yet asks for some small acknowledgment of a women. She concludes the poem by stating that her imperfect work will only add glance to the work of men.