In Norman S. Grabo’s essay “Edward Taylor’s Spiritual Huswifery”, he poses a questionable argument; he believes that a reader will not fully appreciate Taylor’s intended purpose of the poem “Huswifery” unless looked at in light of all of Taylor’s poems and prose. He also contends that the poem “simply does not seem to need explication”, that its aim is “meaningless” (554), save for the last line of the poem which gives it actual meaning. Spending the majority of his essay examining the phrase “[…] Clothed in Holy robes for glory” (142), he explains how the image of holy robes permeates Taylor’s repertoire, and how collectively, these works reveal the true meaning of this one poem which could not otherwise be attained. By tracing the royal robe theme throughout Taylor’s works, Grabo works arduously to prove that this image has little meaning beyond that which is “self-evident” (554) until one reads it in view of Taylor’s collected works. I argue however, that this interpretation is not altogether true. While yes, one can read the poem and study the various texts written by Taylor to gain a deeper understanding of the poem, it is erroneous to say that the poem is meaningless unless read from this perspective. Grabo errs in saying the “full meaning of its terms is not contained in the poem itself” (554); on the contrary, “Huswifery’s” meaning can stand on its own without the assistance of his other texts. Therefore, while it is true one can find deeper meaning in the poem through reading it as Grabo’s did, it is not true to say this is the only means of reading the text and/ or giving it meaning.
First, one can read “Huswifery” as Grabo suggests and gain a deeper understanding of the poem. Grabo clearly demonstrates this as he takes the reader through the writings of Taylor, showing how he used the weaving theme over the course of his lifetime. Grabo shows the reader texts from various periods of Taylor’s life, noting how the image of weaving developed, built upon, and opened new channels in explaining the importance of the “robe of glory” in the personal life of Taylor. He guides the reader, showing them how, in the mind of Taylor, if a person desired to be holy in God’s sight, they must put on the robe of glory and work to prepare their souls for this relationship with God. This idea is stressed throughout various writings. For example, Grabo explains how in one of Taylor’s most well-known works, Meditations, the themes of “Sanctifying Grace” (556) , “righteousness” (557) and “union with Christ” (557) develop from the theme of weaving and from weaving to the royal robe and from the royal robe to “possesses the heavenly kingdom through its ‘mystical’ union with Christ” (557). From reading these reflections, it can rightly be said that a deeper meaning of “Huswifery” can be ascertained, however, this is not the singular means by which one can know and appreciate this poem’s worth. There are other ways of exploring a text outside of simply reading the author’s other texts.
For, contrary to Grabo’s opinion, one can come to appreciate Taylor’s poem without having to read his entire inventory of literary works. If a person read this poem for the first time, it would be wrong to say that they could find no meaning because they knew not the life, mind and life works of Edward Taylor. Who would ever be able to appreciate any poem with these kind of prerequisites? The poem offers enough imagery and metaphor to make the mind of a reader delve into deep channels of interpretation. Furthermore, Grabo overlooks the fact that there are various levels of meaning to a poem: the literal, the allegorical, the moral and the anagogical, respectively. He focuses solely upon the personal. This is not to say it is an invalid means of interpretation, rather that it is not the only means.
Grabo assumes his approach is the only valid which can give the poem any meaning, when in truth there are other equally valuable and legitimate methods to achieving the same end. He presumes his way is the best and only way which in fact is a debatable point. Thus, to appreciate Edward Taylor’s poem “Huswifery”, one can either follow Grabo’s approach or one can follow an alternative method in attempting to discover a newer, different, and perhaps deeper meaning to this very poignant and pious poem.
“Huswifery”
Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat;
Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee.
Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate,
And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.
My Conversation make to be thy Reele,
And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.
Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine:
And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills:
Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine.
Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.
Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice,
All pinkt with Varnish't Flowers of Paradise.
Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will,
Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory;
My Words and Actions, that their shine may fill
My wayes with glory and thee glorify.
Then mine apparell shall display before yee
That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory.
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