Anne Bradstreet's poem, "To My Dear and Loving Husband," is a relatively short poem in which she expresses her undying love, affection, and gratitude for her husband. It is Puritan culture for women to remain reserved, regardless of how they may truly feel; however she makes it her obligation to make her husband aware of feelings, whether positive or negative. She uses figurative language and declarative tone through imagery, repetition, and paradoxes to send her message. "To My Dear and Loving Husband" can be interpreted in many ways by many different people depending how it is initially read. This uncertainty allows the poem to be interpreted on a surface level and on a deeper level.
             One can sense the sincere meaning in poem on a literal level. A literal meaning of Bradstreet's comes across when analyzed solely on the surface level. It is initially assumed that she is expressing her sincerest, undying love for husband. In the first line of her poem she states, "If ever two were one, then surely we." (Line one) This line entertains the belief that she and her husband are one entity; what happens to one, will happen to the other. As stated before, it is Puritan culture for women to remain reserved. Bradstreet was a devoted Puritan, and by writing this she takes a great risk by going against her beliefs. However, her willingness to take such a risk and jeopardize herself by expressing these feelings shows that she does in fact love her husband deeply. When the poem is initially read, the love expressed to husband is very apparent. However when the poem is re-read and fully analyzed, a totally different message comes to light.
             There is substantial evidence that support her sincere love, such as metaphors; however after reading deeper into the meaning of the poem, one will discover something more that is not very obvious. There are also cues that suggest that she may have been trying to send a different, less apparent message to ...