Upon the Burning of Our Barn, July 11th, 1666

A note: this poem is a parody of Anne Bradstreet's Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666. It was a project I had for English III Honors under Mrs. Hill, circa 1999 or 2000, anyhow... read the original by Mrs. Bradstreet first or you won't enjoy this as much as you should.

Upon the Burning of Our Barn, July 11th, 1666 By the Imitated Anne Bradstreet (Mark Burton) In weary night when rest I did A red light from my face I hid I wakened was with timbers’ groan And husband mine didst awfully moan. A familiar sound of “Fire!” and “Fire!” Now resounds as if my funeral pyre. I, starting up, red light did spy, And to Great God my heart did sigh To wonder if this new distress Intended to leave me succorless. Then, coming out, beheld the space Where flames consumed my working place. And when I could no longer see, I blest His name that cursed me, That laid my barn now in the dust: Yea, so it was, and I guess was just. It was His barn, it was not mine, And try hard I will to not repine; He might of all justly bereft, But no longer sufficient for us left. His authority I do not question But can anyone offer a suggestion When places where I sat I see I wonder why my God hates me: Here lay the ass and there the cow, And in the corner dear piglets and sow. My animals and grain in ashes lie, And them tend to no more shall I. Under thy roof no farmer shall sit, Nor animals at trough eat a bit. No pheasant tails shall e’er be hung From hunts of old on wooden rung. No sickle e’er shall grind in thee, Nor plowboy’s voice e’er heard shall be. In silence ever shalt thou lie; Adieu, Adieu, my livestock dies. With Puritan heart my bitterness chide, With half a heart I’ll let this slide. Didst fix my hopes on smouldering rubble? I should have known this would cause trouble: For in this day and age, you see, There are no firemen watching thee! Thou hast a barn on high erect, Framed by that mighty Architect, With livestock richly supplicated, Though my earthly barn be now cremated. I’ll love His barn with feelings deep, For it won’t burn when I’m asleep!