An Apology

by Anne Bradstreet — a poem card from Justes Mots

Bradstreet apologizes for abandoning her historical poem after a fire destroyed her completed manuscript, reflecting on how loss and discouragement interrupted her creative ambitions. She acknowledges the weakness of her efforts while claiming no personal regret, noting the world's larger struggles. The poem meditates on artistic failure, resilience, and the acceptance of human limitation.

To finish what's begun, was my intent,
My thoughts and my endeavours thereto bent;
Essays I many made but still gave out,
The more I mus'd, the more I was in doubt:
The subject large my mind and body weak,
With many moe discouragements did speak.
All thoughts of further progress laid aside,
Though oft perswaded, I as oft deny'd,…

Themes: encouragement · graduation · new-chapter · recovery