To My Mother
by unknown author
Because I feel that, in the heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of “Mother,”
Therefore by that dear name I long have called you,
You who are more than mother unto me,
And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you
In setting my Virginia’s spirit free.
My mother—my own mother, who died early,
Was but the mother of myself; but you
Are mother to the one I loved so dearly,
And thus are dearer than the mother I knew
By that infinity with which my wife
Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.
Summary of To My Mother
- Background: “To My Mother” is a sonnet that appears to be a modern composition, not a work of Edgar Allan Poe. It explores themes of motherhood, loss, and enduring love, weaving a personal narrative that mentions the poet’s deceased mother, his beloved wife Virginia, and the idea of motherhood as a divine concept.
- Central Theme: The poem is a heartfelt tribute to all motherly figures, extending beyond biology to include the poet’s wife and the spiritual presence of a mother like figure. It celebrates the comfort and unconditional love that can arise from any nurturing relationship.
- Key Themes: Love, death, loss, and the spiritual nature of motherhood are interwoven throughout the sonnet. The poet reflects on the absence of his biological mother, honors the presence of his wife, and suggests that the word “mother” carries an angelic resonance.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “To My Mother”
Literary devices are the tools writers use to craft compelling and meaningful texts. In this sonnet, the author employs several devices that deepen the emotional resonance.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds, as in the short “e” in “therefore by that dear name I long have called you,” creates a subtle harmony.
- Anaphora: Repetition of “My mother” at the start of lines 9 and 10 emphasizes a shift from the poet’s own mother to the motherly presence he now recognizes.
- Alliteration: The repeated “w” sound in “whispering to one another” adds musicality.
- Consonance: The repeated “l” sound in “And fill my heart of hearts” contributes to the poem’s flowing rhythm.
- Enjambment: Lines such as “By that infinity with which my wife / Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life” demonstrate how the sentence extends beyond a single line, maintaining momentum.
- Hyperbole: Phrases like “Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life” exaggerate the depth of affection.
- Imagery: Vivid language such as “The angels, whispering to one another” and “In setting my Virginia’s spirit free” evokes heavenly peace and sorrowful release.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “To My Mother”
Poetic devices are techniques used to enhance rhythm, meaning, and aesthetic appeal. This sonnet contains the following notable features:
- Sonnet Form: The poem consists of fourteen lines, a characteristic of the sonnet tradition. However, its rhyme scheme is irregular, with only the final couplet rhyming (“wife” and “life”).
- Couplet: The concluding lines, 13 and 14, form a couplet that reinforces the poem’s central emotion.
- End Rhyme: The poem’s rhyme appears limited to the final couplet, where “wife” and “life” rhyme. Other lines use slant rhyme or none.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly evocative and can be quoted in speeches or discussions about motherhood:
Because I feel that, in the heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of “Mother,”