Edward Taylor
Make me, O Lord, thy Spining 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.
1. Discuss the following questions.
1) What objects is the housewife comparing herself to in the poem?
2) In Line 2, to what does the speaker compare the distaff, the device that holds the wool from which the yarn is made?
3) Within the spinning wheel imagery, what part does the soul correspond to in Line 4?
4) What does the speaker ask the Lord to do to the cloth in Line 11? What happens to the cloth?
5) According to Lines 13-15, what will be adorned with the clothes that have been made? In Lines 17-18, who will see how the speaker is clothed?
6) What does the poem suggest about the speaker’s attitude toward God?
7) What elements in this poem give it the tone of a prayer?
8) Does Taylor believe one can achieve grace through one’s own efforts, or much grace come as a gift from God? Supply evidence from the poem for your answer.
9) How does Huswifery contrast a heavenly vision with the everyday things of this world?
10) What basic Puritan beliefs and values are expressed in this poem?
2. Pair Work: Read the following introduction to Metaphysical poetry and discuss the conceits in Huswifery with your partners.