Tears
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Thank God, bless God, all ye who suffer not
More grief than ye can weep for. That is well -
That is light grieving! lighter, none befell
Since Adam forfeited the primal lot.
Tears! what are tears? The babe weeps in its cot,
The mother singing, at her marriage-bell
The bride weeps, and before the oracle
Of high-faned hills the poet has forgot
Such moisture on his cheeks. Thank God for grace,
Ye who weep only! If, as some have done,
Ye grope tear-blinded in a desert place
And touch but tombs, - look up I those tears will run
Soon in long rivers down the lifted face,
And leave the vision clear for stars and sun.
When I first read this poem, I thought that it was about grief. And as the title suggests, tears usually is related to sadness. However, after rereading the poem, I realized that the tears are meant to be tears of joy. And instead of grief, Browning is trying to emphasize happiness. The tears from “the babe in its cot” and “the bride” are from their innocence or happiness.
Clearly, religion is an important aspect to consider in this poem. She begins the poem with “thank God, bless God” which shows her security within religion. She believes that God cleanses her grief and “thanks God for grace”.
Finally, the poem concludes with an uplifting image. Although tears form “long rivers” upon her face, she looks up with a “lifted face” nonetheless. She gazes up at the “stars and sun” which symbolizes her confidence in the future.
Aunt Jennifer's Tigers
by Adrienne Rich (p844)
Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
There are two intertwined tones that Rich expresses through this poem. The first, hope, and the second, remorse. Although these two tones might seem contradicting, they stem from the role and perception of women. Quite simply, Rich is a feminist and advocates this idea through her drawings. And clearly, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are a significant symbol in this poem. They “do not fear the men” and they “pace in sleek chivalric certainty”. They embody strength and bravery. They represent Rich’s audacious spirit and hope for the future.
The tone changes into remorse when Aunt Jennifer realizes that her feelings can only be expressed as drawings. She is suppressed by societal views and locked in her negative marriage. “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” confines her to her helpless position. She cannot do anything with her “terrified hands” but convey these ideals in indirect ways.
Yet Rich concludes her poem with hope. In essence, Aunt Jennifer dies as a martyr, but more importantly, her work and message live on. Her tigers “go on prancing, proud and unafraid” despite her death and continue to influence and inspire.
