Read the poem by Anne Bradstreet. Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, Who after birth did'st by my side remain, Till s
natched from thence by friends, less wise than true, Who thee abroad exposed to public view; Made thee in rags, halting, to the press to trudge 5 Where errors were not lessened, all may judge. At thy return my blushing was not small, My rambling brat (in print) should mother call; I cast thee by as one unfit for light, Thy visage was so irksome in my sight; 10 Yet being mine own, at length affection would Thy blemishes amend, if so I could: I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw. I stretch thy joints to make thee even feet, 15 Yet still thou run'st more hobbling than is meet; In better dress to trim thee was my mind, But nought save homespun cloth, in the house I find. In this array, 'mongst vulgars may'st thou roam; In criticks hands beware thou dost not come; 20 And take thy way where yet thou are not known. If for thy father asked, say thou had'st none; And for thy Mother, she alas is poor, Which caused her thus to send thee out of door. What base meter and line length are used? Meter: Line Length:
