How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) should mother call. (7-8)
Something about having her motherhood made public doesn’t jive with the speaker. It’s like she wants to keep the book’s origins a secret, which makes us think of it as a baby born out of wedlock or something.
Quote #2
I cast thee by as one unfit for light,
The visage was so irksome in my sight, (9-10)
Our usual image of warm and nurturing motherhood is totally shattered here as the speaker rejects her “child.” This is pretty mean, but maybe it’s also some tough love. Or even a rejection of the role of motherhood she’s expected to play.
Quote #3
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought save home-spun cloth, i' th' house I find. (17-18)
These lines contain a very clever little reference. “Home-spun cloth,” eh? That there is a not-so-subtle reminder of the kinds of work women were expected to do long ago. In other words, they weren’t expected to be writing poetry.
Quote #4
If for thy father askt, say, thou hadst none; (22)
This line has “single mom” written all over it. It has miracle written all over it too. The speaker “gave birth” without any male intervention. This is definitely a plug for female artistic ability and power.
Quote #5
And for thy mother, she alas is poor,
Which caused her thus to send thee out of door. (23-24)
The “mother” is “caused” to send her book away. She doesn’t do it voluntarily, which implies that, in general, women aren’t always in control of their artistic destiny. There are larger forces at work.