My Mother

This charming and moving poem was composed by Ann Taylor (1782 to 1866). She was born In England. She belonged to an extensively literary family. She is best known and remembered as a poetess, hymn writer and children's author. She collaborated with her sister Jane Taylor, who wrote the famous poem Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Their work was usually for children and had moral lessons in it. Together they published ‘Original Poems for Infant Minds’ and ‘Hymns for Infant Minds’.

The poem expresses the natural devotion between a mother and her child. Ann Taylor pays rich tributes to her mother for her endless love. The poetess recalls her childhood in most striking and simple words. She recalls that her mother used to be at her side during infancy. She remembers that her mother used to dress her in nice and fancy clothes.  It was her mother who taught her how to play. Her mother always understood what she wanted to say even when she couldn’t speak. Ann remembers that her mother was always there when she had any trouble. Her mother picked her up from each of her falls and kissed her to make the pain go away.

Towards the end of the composition the poetess is mindful of her duty towards her mother. She pledges that she will not leave her mother alone when she has grown old and frail. The poetess vows that she will take care of her mother with the same love and care as her mother did when she was young and fragile. 

The Character of a Happy Life - Summary

The Character of a Happy Life

The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wotton has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man.

We find Wotton’s poem has a sharp sense of contrast between the uneasy life of the ambitious man and the contented life of man satisfied to live an obscure life of peaceful virtue. Sir Henry Wotton wrote from experience; for had seen for himself the rise and fall of ambitious men. The poem consisting of six stanzas of regular couplet rhymed.

“Nature is the peace not the Land.”                                                                    John Keats

The poet narrates thata  person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He does not act according to other people’s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity and truth.

Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. The dispassionate soul is always prepared for death  believing that death is the defining moment of life: the moment of religious judgment when virtue is rewarded and vice is punished. This man is not concerned about what people say about him publicly or privately.

This upright man is not jealous. Wotton continues by saying that anyone pledged to a happy life envies no one who has become successful—which is likely to have been either by “chance” or “vice.” The “deepest wounds” are “given by praise” because flattery feeds pride; whereas happiness relies on transcending the ego. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do wicked deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path.

A happy man’s life is free from numerous worries when he is sad he retires in his comfort of clear conscience. He hasn’t got a high position. Therefore people don’t flatter him or ridicule him at his own fall. A happy man prays to God regularly. In this prayer he does not ask for things but he thanks God for being gracious and merciful on him. His favorite pass time is good book or friend. A man who is truly happy is free from slavery of his desires. He isn’t ambitious. He does not expect too much therefore his hopes aren’t shattered. He doesn’t fear a downfall. This man hasn’t got lands or wealth and yet he has everything. He has got the greatest wealth of contentment and happiness.

about Sir Henry Wotton

Evening - Summary

Evening

Thomas Miller is a famous poet and novelist of modern English literature. He has written over 40 volumes.  ‘Evening’ is one of his inspiring poems.

The poet sketches a depiction of the fall of the evening. The poet narrates that the day is over and the shining stars have now come into sight in the evening sky. There is dew on the grass. The night is air is now taken by bats. Animals and birds have all gone to sleep. The darkness envelops the whole atmosphere. But the poet is not afraid of the night to the darkness. He feels secure and out of harm’s way even through the night and during his sleep because he has a staunch faith in god. Miller believes that god is the creator of the universe and he controls the seas and the skies. He trusts that god will look after him and will be always with him whenever he prays to him for his help. The poet closes the poem with the connotation that god loves all the people alike irrespective of their rank, creed or color.

about Thomas Miller

Little Things - Summary

Little Things

In the poem ‘Little Things’ the poetess, Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney, highlights the importance of little things. The poetess states that small things in life often indicate great changes in our lives. The poetess supports this claim by demonstrating that all big things are made up of minuscule building blocks. The great seas are made up of tiny drops of water. In the same way, this lovely land is made up of diminutive grains of dirt and sand.

Afterwards she reflects that our small deeds determine the course of our life. She tries to impress upon us that even the small evils and vices that we commit can lead to depths of sin. Likewise our little good deeds can make us very happy and turn this place into an image of the Paradise.

about Julia A. Carney